Politics · Italy · 14 hrs ago
Italian textbook sparks renewed dispute over criticism of Meloni government
A history textbook for Italian high schools has become controversial again over how it describes Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government.
Published by Laterza, the book “Trame del tempo” says the government has introduced measures that restrict freedoms and criticises its treatment of migrants.
Lawmaker Galeazzo Bignami of the Brothers of Italy party revived the dispute after seeing the book listed for sale on school-book platforms.
Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara said he was saddened by what he called a biased account that could discourage students from developing critical thinking.
Valditara had previously asked publishers to check the book’s facts and historical accuracy and said textbooks should not include offensive or misleading claims.
The dispute matters because the book is intended for students, and the minister says its account could risk indoctrinating them.
The sources give no new decision or next step in the review.
A history textbook criticizing the Meloni government has renewed a dispute in Italy.
The Laterza textbook, titled “Trame del tempo,” says the government has pursued measures that restrict freedoms and has intensified its campaign against migrants.
Galeazzo Bignami, a lawmaker from the Brothers of Italy party, brought the textbook back into public debate after spotting it among new books for sale for high schools.
Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara said the book presents biased assessments and could indoctrinate students.
The dispute over the textbook had already drawn attention in June 2025.
- Who
- The dispute involves the Laterza textbook, lawmaker Galeazzo Bignami and Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara.
- What
- The textbook’s criticism of the Meloni government has prompted renewed controversy.
- When
- The controversy was revived on November 9, 2026; it had previously drawn attention in June 2025.
- Where
- Italy.
- Why
- Bignami raised the issue after seeing the textbook among new books for high schools. Valditara criticized its assessments as biased.
The textbook’s critical account
Galeazzo Bignami and Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara
Government measures
The textbook’s critical account
The textbook says the government has enacted measures that restrict freedoms, including the September 2024 Security bill.
Galeazzo Bignami and Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara
Valditara said the book contains biased assessments and risks indoctrinating students.
Government and migration
The textbook’s critical account
The textbook says the government continues a campaign against migrants, including deportation plans and their constant criminalization in the media.
Galeazzo Bignami and Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara
Not stated
The Fanpage investigation “Gioventù meloniana” cited in the textbook was published.
The textbook was at the center of controversy.
The textbook refers to the Security bill as significantly restricting the right to demonstrate.
Galeazzo Bignami renewed the controversy after spotting the textbook among new books for high schools.
- Publisher
- Laterza
- Textbook
- Trame del tempo
- Lawmaker
- Galeazzo Bignami, Brothers of Italy
- Education minister
- Giuseppe Valditara
- Security bill
- September 2024
What people are saying
I am saddened because this book expresses tendentious assessments and a biased narrative and therefore does not accustom students to critical thinking but risks being functional to their indoctrination.
stands out in implementing clearly liberticidal measures