She was speaking after appearing last week to take a different line than the head of State on the policing of a pro-Palestinian protest in Pisa nine days ago in which a number of young people, including minors, were hurt after being hit by batons.
Mattarella issued a rebuke, saying “truncheons fail young people”, while Meloni said it would be “dangerous” to withdraw institutional support for the police.
“My relations with Mattarella are excellent,” Meloni said on Saturday after a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
She said the Left was trying to open a “rift” between her and the president as part of its campaign against her plan to change the Constitution so that the Italian prime minister is directly elected by the people.
She stressed that the plan would not affect the powers of the head of State.
A reception Meloni was due to have on Saturday night with Trudeau at the Art Gallery of Ontario was cancelled due to security concerns after pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside the venue.
ANSA
