Italian Court Overturns Age Limit Targeting Naples Opera Director

Italy's Constitutional Court has declared illegal a 2023 decree-law by Giorgia Meloni's government that imposed a mandatory retirement age of 70 for opera house directors. The law specifically targeted Stéphane Lissner, the French director of Naples Opera, forcing him to step down as director of the Teatro San Carlo by June 1, 2023.

Lissner challenged the decree, and the Naples court ruled in his favor. The case then went to the Constitutional Court, which criticized the government's legal reasoning, stating the decree lacked "extraordinary necessity and urgency" and failed to meet "constitutional limits."

Critics accuse Meloni of trying to control public cultural institutions, including the RAI broadcasting group and major cultural events. The decree also targeted Dominique Meyer, director of La Scala in Milan, who will step down in February 2025.

In response to Meloni's policies, former RAI head Carlo Fuortes resigned last year, with the government attempting to install him as the director of Naples Opera, a role still held by Lissner.