Italian Prisons Grant Intimate Visits for Inmates After Constitutional Court Ruling
In recent weeks, two Italian prisoners have been granted the right to have intimate, unsupervised visits with their partners, a first since last year’s ruling by the Constitutional Court that declared the ban on affection in prison unconstitutional. The prisoners, one in Terni and the other in Parma, had initially been denied such visits but won legal battles after appealing to their respective prison authorities. The courts have given both prisons two months to arrange suitable spaces for intimate encounters. The ruling has sparked debates over how to implement such measures, as the Constitutional Court’s decision was vague on the specifics. The prisoners involved are both in high-security facilities, and their requests were based on desires for family life and intimacy with their partners. Legal experts have noted that this could set a significant precedent in the ongoing discussion of prisoners’ rights to intimacy.
Tuscany Becomes First Region in Italy to Approve Assisted Suicide Law
Tuscany has become the first Italian region to pass a popular initiative law on medically assisted suicide, following the collection of 10,000 signatures by the Luca Coscioni Association and revisions by the regional council majority to align with the 2019 Constitutional Court ruling. The law sets clear timelines to protect those seeking end-of-life options, including a 20-day maximum for determining eligibility, based on specific criteria such as irreversible illness and unbearable suffering. The law also outlines the process for assisted suicide, including the involvement of an ethics committee and the choice of medications. The law passed with 27 votes in favor from the majority, the Democratic Party, Italia Viva, the Five Star Movement, and Andrea Ulmi, while 13 votes against came from Forza Italia, Lega, and Fratelli d’Italia. Marco Cappato of the Luca Coscioni Association called it a “great victory” and urged other regions to follow suit.
Italy’s Industrial Production Sees Sharp Decline in 2024, Worst Since 2008 Financial Crisis
According to Istat data, Italy’s industrial production dropped by 3.5% in 2024 compared to the previous year, marking the worst decline since the 2008-2009 financial crisis, excluding the COVID-19 pandemic years. Only the energy supply sector (+1.1%) and the food, beverages, and tobacco sector (+1.8%) saw positive growth. Meanwhile, production in the textile industry (-10.5%) and transportation equipment manufacturing (-11.3%) experienced significant declines. Industrial production is closely monitored as it accounts for about one-fifth of Italy’s GDP, but it has been in decline for some time, with a 7.1% drop recorded in December 2024 compared to December 2023, the worst performance in two years.
Sanremo 2025 Opens to Record Viewership, Reaching 12.6 Million Viewers
The first episode of the 75th edition of the Sanremo Festival, led by Carlo Conti, has broken records with a staggering 65.3% audience share and 12.6 million viewers, surpassing last year’s debut by Amadeus, which had 65.1% and 10.56 million viewers. These figures were measured using the Total Audience method, which includes viewership from traditional TV as well as streaming on RaiPlay via devices like smartphones, tablets, and PCs. Conti, however, declined to compare these results with past editions, focusing on the success of the current festival.
Sanremo 2025 Slows Down for Semifinal and Special Guests on Second Night
After hearing all 29 songs in competition, the Sanremo Festival slows down tonight with only 15 artists performing. The audience and the radio jury will vote for the contestants. The night opens with the semifinal for the “Nuove Proposte” category, featuring performances from Vale Lp and Lil Jolie with Maria Tomba, and Settembre with Alex Wyse, who will compete for a spot in tomorrow’s final. Co-hosts Bianca Balti, Cristiano Malgioglio, and Nino Frassica take over from Antonella Clerici and Gerry Scotti, joining Carlo Conti. Special guests include the cast of Paolo Genovese’s new film Follemente and international star Damiano David, returning to the Ariston stage for the first time since his Maneskin victory in 2021. David will perform as a solo artist, promoting his singles Silverlines and Born with a Broken Heart, ahead of his world tour later this year.
