Overview
- Bologna’s mayor Matteo Lepore said revoking Francesca Albanese’s honorary citizenship is not an option, with the PD group confirming it will not back a withdrawal motion.
- Florence’s council majority halted the honorary citizenship, and a commission will instead debate inviting Albanese to present her UN report at Palazzo Vecchio on Wednesday, December 10.
- Il Giornale published video alleging Albanese spoke at a 2022 Gaza event featuring senior Hamas figures and said Palestinians had a right to resist; she denied any interaction with Hamas and cited a prior UN review clearing her.
- The UN secretary‑general’s spokesperson reiterated that journalists should never face violence, a statement issued after Albanese’s comments about the raid on La Stampa drew criticism.
- NGO and media scrutiny continued over who funded her 2023 Australia–New Zealand tour, with UN Watch alleging about $20,000 from pro‑Palestinian groups and Albanese and the UN disputing that account, as figures from Prodi to Fratelli d’Italia pressed for revocations.