Premier Giorgia Meloni said Thursday after she and some ministers were informed by a prosecutor Tuesday of a lawyer's complaint over the release and return to Libya of wanted war criminal Osama Almasri that anyone in her shoes would be a bit disheartened over the alleged judicial mistreatment she has suffered.
She also said she was being driven crazy by the reputational damage to Italy from the affair and called on magistrates to stand for political election if they wanted to govern the country.
"Anyone in my shoes would be a bit disheartened when faced with this story", said Meloni, speaking at the event La Ripartenza, organized by journalist Nicola Porro in Milan, answering a question about the notification sent to her and some ministers on the case of Almasri, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court, by the Rome Prosecutor's Office.
"The action was clearly an intentional action," she remarked.
"Everyone knows that the Prosecutor's Office has its discretion in these matters as demonstrated by numerous complaints from citizens against the institutions and on which it was decided not to proceed with the registration in the register of suspects, as in the years of Covid".
Meloni has come under fire after Almasri, wanted for the alleged murder of migrants and alleged rape of persons as young as five, was flown back to a hero's welcome in Tripoli after being released on a technicality and expelled as a dangerous individual.
The premier and ministers including Justice Minister Carlo Nordio and Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, as well as Cabinet Secretary in charge of national security Alfredo Mantovano, have said they followed the law in the case.
"Yesterday I found myself on the front page of the Financial Times with the news that I was investigated and if in Italy citizens understand perfectly what is happening abroad it is not the same thing", said the premier.
She added: "What is happening is damaging to the nation, to its opportunities and this drives me crazy".
She reiterated: "To the Italians I say: as long as you are here, I am here too.
I do not intend to give up an inch, as long as the Italians are with me."
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