Luigi Di Maio

Following nationwide controversy over Bibbiano, former mayor Andrea Carletti brought a defamation action against Di Maio over political statements linking the Democratic Party to the affair.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Personally implicated

The EU Council appointed Di Maio Special Representative for the Gulf region. MEPs subsequently questioned the selection process's transparency, his qualifications and the lack of support for his candidacy from the Italian government.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Amid disagreement with Giuseppe Conte over M5S policy on Ukraine, Di Maio left the movement with dozens of parliamentarians and established a new group, causing one of the biggest splits in the party's history.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Direct responsibility

Following the acquittal on appeal of former Lodi mayor Simone Uggetti, Di Maio apologised for the way M5S had contributed to public exposure and a 'gogna' or public shaming campaign against him during the investigation.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Personally implicated

Di Maio met Yellow Vest representatives in France while serving as Deputy Prime Minister. Paris condemned repeated interference in French domestic politics and temporarily recalled its ambassador from Rome, an exceptional diplomatic move between the two countries.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Marika Cassimatis, excluded from the M5S electoral contest in Genoa, had filed a defamation complaint against Di Maio following public statements linked to their political dispute.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Personally implicated

Following President Sergio Mattarella's refusal to appoint Paolo Savona as Economy Minister, Di Maio called for impeachment proceedings, triggering an institutional crisis and strong criticism concerning respect for the president's role.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Luigi Di Maio's father acknowledged having previously employed people without proper contracts at his business and apologised. The affair fuelled controversy over the consistency of M5S rhetoric on social rights and integrity.

State of the evidence

Admitted by the person

Structures on land linked to Di Maio's father and aunt became the subject of checks and media coverage concerning possible building regulation breaches. The controversy brought renewed attention to the family's property.

State of the evidence

Documented

Di Maio provoked controversy by claiming that Italy had 'imported' 40 % of its criminals from Romania, wording condemned as stigmatising Romanians and immigrants.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Personally implicated

During the debate on Mediterranean rescues, Di Maio popularised the expression 'taxi del mare' about certain NGOs and claimed that their vessels had also transported criminals. His remarks triggered strong political and NGO criticism.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Personally implicated

During the Quarto crisis, former mayor Rosa Capuozzo recounted that Roberto Fico and Luigi Di Maio had asked her to resign. The controversy concerned what M5S leaders knew about local pressure and tensions and how they had handled them.

State of the evidence

Documented

During the Paola Muraro affair, Di Maio was criticised after the disclosure of an email dated 5 August stating that Rome's environment councillor was under investigation. His opponents argued that he could not therefore claim to have learned of the situation only later.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility