ROME – Italy’s Five Star Movement has threatened to abolish the country’s Order of Journalists following conflict between the populist party and the press, official sources said on Thursday.

 A recording of government spokesman Rocco Casalino threatening vendetta if Treasury fails to find funds for key policies was leaked to the press on Monday.

“What is the use of the Order of Journalists if it doesn’t sanction issuers of fake news and antithetic journalist behaviour dictated by party interests? Let’s abolish it, the action is already on the party’s agenda,” said a statement published on the Five Star Movement blog – statement in which the party defends Rocco Casalino following the leaked audio note against the technocrats of the Finance Ministry.

 The Lombary division of the Order of Journalists has decided to open a disciplinary action case against Rocco Casalino, a member of the order since 2007. It was made clear by the Order President Alessandro Galimberti.

 gr