Tajani Defends Forza Italia Against Allegations by Salvini

Rome: Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani stated on Tuesday that his Forza Italia (FI) party will not tolerate its name being slandered. This declaration came after Transport Minister and League leader Matteo Salvini accused Italian MEP Ilaria Salis of having her parliamentary immunity upheld because centre-right MEPs deviated from the party line.

According to Ansa News Agency, Forza Italia is a member of the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP) group at the EU level. The EPP group had previously expressed opposition to maintaining Salis’s immunity. Tajani emphasized on the sidelines of a conference in the Lower House that slander and insults would not be accepted.

Tajani further clarified that there was no betrayal or unusual maneuvers within the party. He affirmed the party’s loyalty and transparency regarding their stance on the vote, noting the complexity of a secret ballot involving over 700 parliamentarians.