Deputy Premiers Antonio Tjaani and
Matteo Salvini on Tuesday slammed the opening of a probe against
Premier Giorgia Meloni and other officials into the release of
alleged war criminal and Libyan police chief General Najeem
Osema Almasri Habish, wanted for war crimes by the International
Criminal Court (ICC), arrested in Italy, released on a
technicality, and flown back to Tripoli to a hero's welcome
aboard an Italian secret service plane.
Tajani said it seemed like "spite" on the part of the justice
system amid government plans to reform the sector while Salvini
said it was a "disgrace" and that it highlighted the need to
pres ahead with plans to separate judges' and prosecutors'
career paths, a move magistrates say paves the way fro executive
control of the judiciary.
Tajani, leader of the centre right post Berlusconi F Forza
Italia (FI) party and also foreign minister, said on X: "I am on
the side of Giorgia Meloni, (Interior Minister) Matteo
Piantedosi, (Justice Minister Carlo) Nordio and (Cabinet
Secretary with intelligence brief Alfredo) Mantovano.
"I defend the separation of powers and condemn choices that
sound like a reprisal for the reform of justice".
Salvini, leader of the right-wing League party who is also
transport minister, said on X:
"Giorgia Meloni investigated for the repatriation of the Libyan
Almasri, notices of investigation for the undersecretary Alfredo
Mantovano and the ministers Matteo Piantedosi and Carlo Nordio.
"Shame, shame, shame.
"The same prosecutor who accused me in Palermo (of abducting
migrants) is now trying again in Rome with the center-right
government.
"Justice reform, immediately!".
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