Almasri after he was arrested in Turin on a warrant by the International Criminal Court (ICC), then released on a technicality.
Schlein called Meloni the ‘president of the rabbit’ (presidente del coniglio) instead of the Italian term for the PM, the ‘president of the council’ (presidente del consiglio).
Her insult referred to Meloni letting Justice Minister Carlo Nordio and Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi report on the case instead.
Italians use the term rabbit to indicate cowardice rather than chicken.
“This is a sad day for democracy,” said Schlein.
“Nordio and Piantedosi came to the House to cover the Prime Minister’s back.
“But today Giorgia Meloni should have been in this Chamber.
“She lacks respect for the Chamber and the country.
“The truth is that you are ashamed of what you do and so you lie.
“Giorgia Meloni should have been here.
“Instead, you (Meloni) just attack the magistrates.”
At the end of her speech, PD lawmakers showed banners with rabbits asking, “Where are you Meloni?” and calling her a “patriot on the run”.
Schlein also picked up on some of the things Nordio said, arguing they showed Almasri’s release was a political decision, not a technical one.
“You did not speak as a minister but as a defence lawyer of a torturer,” said Schlein.
“Why didn’t Nordio, who had been informed since the day of the arrest, respond to the requests of the attorney general [to intervene]?
“Your inaction resulted in his release.
“First he (Nordio) tells us that he was freed because he didn’t have time to translate some pages into English, then he said that he read them but found some faults.
“So he admitted that it was a political choice.”
ANSA
