Premier Giorgia Meloni has criticised the Rome Tribunal of Ministers. It appears the Tribunal is set to request prosecution of three senior government officials over the release of a Libyan general Almasri, wanted for war crimes.
In a social media post on Monday, Meloni confirmed she had been formally notified that the case against her had been dropped. However, investigations remain open against Justice Minister Carlo Nordio, Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi and Cabinet Secretary Alfredo Mantovano.
“Every decision made by this government is agreed upon,” Meloni said. “It is absurd to request that they go to trial and not me as well.”
The Case
The case concerns the arrest and rapid release of Libyan General Njeem Osama Almasri. He was wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged torture, rape, and murder of migrants, including children as young as five.
Almasri was arrested at a Turin hotel on January 19 under an ICC warrant. However, a Rome appeals court released him on January 21 after a technical error. Justice Minister Nordio had not responded to the court’s request to confirm the arrest, and Almasri was then flown back to Tripoli on a state aircraft.
The Tribunal of Ministers has reportedly found no evidence that Meloni had direct involvement in the case.
Ministerial Defence
Nordio blamed the ICC for issuing what he called a “mess” of a warrant. Piantedosi defended the release, claiming Almasri posed a security risk to Italy. Parliament, controlled by Meloni’s centre-right coalition, would need to approve any request to indict the ministers.
Meanwhile, Cesare Parodi, president of magistrates’ union ANM, said Meloni had taken “political responsibility” but noted this does not equate to criminal responsibility. He also warned of possible political fallout if Justice Ministry Chief of Staff Giusi Bartolozzi were to be implicated.
Nordio Responds
Nordio responded angrily to Parodi’s remarks, calling them “improper” and “unacceptable.”
“I do not know how he dares to mention my chief of staff, whose name is not, as far as I am aware, in the case documents,” Nordio said. “Otherwise, I must assume he has access to confidential information.”
The investigation continues as political tension mounts over one of the government’s most sensitive legal controversies to date.