Savini against the "Serbian journalists". And the controversy with Corriere and Repubblica breaks out

Italian League party leader Matteo Salvini accused journalists of being servants who sought to harm his political movement during the party’s national congress in Milan. He stated that he personally requested organizers keep press members out of the main hall to prevent them from polluting the atmosphere for delegates and activists. Salvini described the excluded reporters as individuals who were not present to tell the story of the League but instead aimed to damage it. He specifically targeted two major Italian newspapers, claiming their staff had already created fictional electoral lists with arbitrary exclusions and inclusions. The leader told party members to avoid reading these publications and suggested showing the new League symbol to one outlet to mock its previous use of an old logo. Salvini asserted that the press has never helped the party and would not start doing so now, noting that forty years of attempts to destroy the organization have failed because giving space to such media does not assist the League. The Corriere della Sera Council of Directors issued a statement expressing shock at the language used by Salvini, who serves as deputy prime minister and transport minister. The body highlighted that Salvini, who is registered with the Journalists' Order, claimed he asked to block accredited colleagues from entering the congress room. The council called the remarks severely insulting and reminded Salvini that it is the duty of journalists to provide readers with news that may displease powerful figures. They urged him to withdraw the insults. A similar reaction came from the Republic newspaper's directors' council, which noted that Salvini still appears on the Journalists' Order registry despite lacking familiarity with concepts of press freedom and independence. They criticized his lack of democratic culture given his institutional role and affirmed their commitment to continuing their work of reporting and denunciation. Carlo Bartoli, president of the National Order of Journalists, delivered a sharp rebuke, comparing Salvini's division of journalists into servants and friends to practices in Russia, China, and totalitarian regimes. Bartoli suggested the leader's vision of a party congress resembled that of the former Soviet Union. Alessandra Costante, general secretary of the National Federation of Italian Journalists, questioned why Salvini maintained his registration with the professional order if he despised journalists and press freedom so intensely. The Rome Press Association condemned the persistent attacks against specific outlets and all colleagues, citing the deputy prime minister's intolerance toward information that did not please him. The association expressed solidarity with reporters who were insulted and barred from the hall based on a decision Salvini himself defended. Separately, the directors' council of La Stampa voiced deep concern over social media messages inciting hatred against journalists who covered recent demonstrations across Italy. The council deemed unacceptable calls wishing for a repeat of an incident less than a year ago, when their newsroom was invaded and ransacked. They found particularly grave the sharing of colleagues' names and surnames, which exposed them to safety risks solely for performing their jobs. The statement also expressed astonishment at the events in Milan, where reporters labeled as servants and accused of contaminating proceedings were denied access to the audience area. During his speech, Salvini attacked colleagues from Republic and Corriere della Sera multiple times. The council emphasized that those holding responsible roles in institutions must respect and protect the right to free and independent information rather than contributing to its delegitimization.