Politics · Italy · 2 hrs ago
Salvini says he kept journalists away from Lega congress delegates
Matteo Salvini kept journalists away from delegates at the Lega party congress in Milan, saying he had asked organisers to place them on a lower floor.
Salvini, Italy’s deputy prime minister and the Lega’s leader, said some reporters were not there to report fairly and insulted them from the stage.
He was re-elected as party leader at the congress.
Carlo Bartoli, head of Italy’s national journalists’ association, said Salvini was dividing reporters into “servants” and “friends” and compared his approach to that of authoritarian regimes.
The national journalists’ union and parliamentary press association also condemned his remarks, while newsroom committees at Corriere della Sera and Repubblica expressed support for their colleagues.
The dispute centres on press freedom and journalists’ ability to report on political parties, including news that leaders may not welcome.
The statements provided do not say what action, if any, will follow beyond the organisations’ public criticism.
Matteo Salvini said he asked organizers to keep journalists downstairs during the Lega congress in Milan.
He said reporters should be kept away from delegates and militants because some were not there to report on the party.
Salvini called some journalists “servants” and said the press had never helped the Lega.
Journalism organizations and representatives condemned his remarks and defended the press’s independence.
Salvini was confirmed as Lega secretary at the congress, receiving 456 preferences, according to Il Fatto Quotidiano.
- Who
- Matteo Salvini and journalists covering the Lega congress. Journalism organizations and representatives also responded.
- What
- Salvini said he had asked organizers to keep journalists downstairs, away from the room with delegates, and criticized some reporters.
- When
- October 25, 2026.
- Where
- The Allianz MiCo congress venue in Milan.
- Why
- Salvini said some journalists were not there to report on the Lega and that he did not want them around delegates and militants.
Matteo Salvini
Journalism organizations and representatives
Press access
Matteo Salvini
Salvini said he asked for journalists to stay downstairs so they would not be around delegates and militants.
Journalism organizations and representatives
They said journalists must be able to report freely, including news that powerful people may dislike.
Characterization of journalists
Matteo Salvini
Salvini called some journalists “servants” and said the press had not helped the Lega.
Journalism organizations and representatives
The Order of Journalists and other groups rejected the insults and defended journalists’ independence and public service.
Journalists covering the Lega congress in Milan were kept downstairs, outside the room with delegates.
Salvini said he had asked organizers to keep the journalists there and criticized some reporters from the congress stage.
The National Order of Journalists, Fnsi and the Parliamentary Press Association condemned his remarks.
- Party
- Lega
- Leader
- Matteo Salvini
- Congress venue
- Allianz MiCo, Milan
- Journalists’ location
- Downstairs, outside the main room with delegates
- Salvini’s congress result
- 456 preferences, according to Il Fatto Quotidiano
- Date
- October 25, 2026
3 sources
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What people are saying
I asked the organizers to leave them there, so as not to contaminate delegates and militants who do not deserve to be surrounded by certain people who are not here to report on the Lega.
Some journalist servants are writing crap again today.
As long as we are in a democracy, the press also has a duty to seek and offer citizens news that powerful people of the moment do not like.
We expect an act of consistency from him by returning the membership card of an order populated by servants.