Deputy Premier, Foreign Minister and
centre-right post Berlusconi Forza Italia (FI) leader Antonio
Tajani said Monday he as "not against" restoring parliamentary
immunity for probes as it had been before the
Bribesville-spurred reforms of 1993 amid speculation this could
be used as a shield for Premier Giorgia Meloni and other
ministers under investigation over the case of Libyan General
Osama Almasri.
"I'm not against it in principel, we would have to discuss it,
and see for what crimes it would be used," said the FI chief
after media reports the party was set to file a bill to restore
immunity to pre-1993 levels.
Meloni, Justice Minister Carlo Nordio, Interior Minister Matteo
Piantedosi and Cabinet Secretary for national security Alfredo
Mantovano are under investigation in the case of Almasri, an
alleged war criminal wanted by the International Criminal Court
for murdering and raping migrants who was sprung from jail and
flown back to Tripoli to a hero's welcome spurring opposition
claims he was essential to Italy's defending its borders from
people leaving the north African country.
Amid the media reports on FI planning to restore immunity for
probes, and not just for indictment rerquests, populist 5-Star
Movement (M5S) leader and two-time ex premier Giuseppe Conte
said the ruling majority was suffering from a "delirium" and
"wants to erect a shield for the government".
Conte said: "Are we ruled by the Marchese del Grillo?" referring
to a Roman aristocrat played by Alberto Sordi and often used as
a symbol of higher-ups impunity, with his famous line, mocking
the plebs: "I'm me and you aren't worth f-all".
"These people are in a state of delirium of omnipotence," said
Conte, who has previously led two administrations of opposing
stripes.
"They should immediately backtrack on this proposal and these
intentions: let's raise the alert level before it's too late, we
must all oppose it together.
"Meloni is not 'one of the people', they have thrown away the
mask: arrogance, immunity and privileges".
The premier grew up in a working class part of Rome and
frequently plays on her humble origins, as an underdog compared
to the allegedly leftwing establishment.
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