Deputy Premier, Foreign Minister, and Forza Italia (FI) leader Antonio Tajani said on Monday he was “not against” restoring parliamentary immunity for investigations, as it existed before the Bribesville-inspired reforms of 1993.
His comments come amid speculation that such a move could shield Premier Giorgia Meloni and other ministers under investigation over the case of Libyan General Osama Almasri.
“I’m not against it in principle. We would have to discuss it and see for what crimes it would apply,” said Tajani. His remarks followed media reports that FI was preparing a bill to reinstate immunity to pre-1993 levels.
Meloni, Justice Minister Carlo Nordio, Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, and Cabinet Secretary for National Security Alfredo Mantovano are under investigation over the handling of Almasri. The Libyan general, wanted by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes against migrants, was released from jail and flown to Tripoli, where he received a hero’s welcome. Opposition parties claim the government facilitated his release because of his role in preventing migration from North Africa.
In response to reports that FI plans to restore parliamentary immunity not just for indictments but also for investigations, populist 5-Star Movement (M5S) leader and former premier Giuseppe Conte accused the government of seeking a “shield” for its ministers.
“Are we ruled by the Marchese del Grillo?” Conte asked, referencing a Roman aristocrat known for his disregard for ordinary people. He quoted the character’s famous line: “I’m me and you aren’t worth anything.”
Conte added, “This government is suffering from a delirium of omnipotence. They should abandon this proposal immediately. We must all oppose it before it’s too late.”
Meloni, who grew up in a working-class part of Rome, often highlights her humble origins as a contrast to what she describes as a left-wing establishment.
