An Italian journalist is
suing for defamation the leader and a bigwig of the ruling
anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S) for allegedly
slandering Italian journalists after Rome Mayor Virginia Raggi
was cleared of lying over an appointment at the weekend.
Palermo-based Franco Viviano also proposed a class-action
lawsuit by all Italian journalists against M5S leader Luigi Di
Maio, who called reporters of the Raggi case "dirty low-down
jackals", and former No.2 Alessandro Di Battista who called them
"prostitutes and hacks".
The M5S have long had a confrontational stance with most of
the the Italian media but observers said their invective has now
reached new heights after Raggi was acquitted saying two years
of "mud-slinging" had ended.
Viviano said "I've been doing this job for decades, also
risking a lot, but always to inform the public.
"Therefore I have decided to sue Luigi Di Maio and Alessandro
Di Battista for the offensive remarks towards journalists who
still believe in this work".
He added: "tomorrow we will promote a class action lawsuit
against those who denigrate and offend all honest journalists".
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