Giorgia Meloni denounces anti‑fascist patent required for Rome book fair

The “Più libri più liberi” small‑and‑medium publishing fair in Rome announced that exhibitors must sign a declaration supporting the constitutional anti‑fascist principles. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni reacted on X, calling the requirement “censura” and accusing the left of imposing ideological conformity: “Si chiama, banalmente, censura.” Democratic Party leader Elly Schlein replied that antifascism is a core constitutional guarantee, not a partisan demand, and warned that the government is diverting attention from more serious threats to democracy. She said, “La Costituzione su cui Meloni ha giurato è antifascista.” The fair’s organizers defended the measure as a non‑political clarification of shared democratic values and announced an in‑depth review after the controversy.

The episode has sparked a wider debate in Italy over the balance between freedom of expression, cultural pluralism, and the enforcement of anti‑fascist values in public events.