Meloni Fumes as Rome Tribunal Seeks Prosecution in Almasri Case
Rome: Premier Giorgia Meloni expressed anger with the Rome Tribunal of Ministers, which is poised to seek prosecution of Justice Minister Carlo Nordio, Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, and Cabinet Secretary Alfredo Mantovano over Italy’s release of a Libyan general wanted for war crimes.
According to Ansa News Agency, Meloni announced on social media that the case against her concerning the release of Njeem Osama Almasri had been dropped, while those against Nordio, Piantedosi, and Mantovano remained open. “Every decision made by this government is agreed upon. It is absurd to request that they go to trial and not me as well,” Meloni stated.
The case centers on the events following Almasri’s arrest under an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant at a Turin hotel on January 19 and his subsequent release and return to Tripoli on January 21, following a Rome appeals court decision on a technicality. The release was ordered after Nordio did not respond to the court’s request to uphold the arrest, leadin
g to his criticism of the ICC warrants as a “mess.” Piantedosi stated that Rome was forced to expel the general due to the danger he posed to Italy.
Parliament, where Meloni’s ruling center-right coalition holds a significant majority, would need to approve any request to indict members of the cabinet. Almasri is wanted over allegations of torture, rape, and murder of migrants as young as five in Libya.
Cesare Parodi, president of the magistrates’ union ANM, remarked that Meloni had assumed “political responsibility” for the incident, noting that this does not necessarily equate to criminal responsibility. He also warned of “political fallout” if Justice Ministry Chief of Staff Giusi Bartolozzi were to be indicted, which prompted an irate reaction from Nordio.
“I am puzzled by the words of an ANM president, whom I considered balanced until now,” Nordio responded. “I do not know how he dares to mention my chief of staff, whose name, as far as I am aware, is not mentioned in the case documents. Otherwise, I
should infer that Parodi is privy to confidential information. As for the political aspect, I consider these statements by an authoritative ANM representative an improper, unacceptable encroachment of institutional prerogatives.”