Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni said Sunday the assassination attempt on Donald Trump was a warning to everyone about how they conduct political debate.
A spectator at the Trump rally died in the attack. Two other people were seriously wounded.
“There are limits that should never be crossed in political debate, all over the world,” Meloni, the leader of the right-wing Brothers of Italy (FdI) party, said on Facebook.
“It is a warning to everyone, regardless of political affiliation, (of the need) to restore dignity and honour to politics, against all forms of hatred and violence, for the sake of our democracies.
“Solidarity with Donald Trump, his supporters and the injured, and my heartfelt condolences to the victim’s family”.
President Mattarella said the attack was cause for “grave alarm and strong indignation.
“The violence that, for some time now, has resumed in the political arena is a disconcerting symptom of the deterioration of the civil fabric and the dangerous rejection of discussion, dialogue and respect for democratic life,” the Italian head of State added in a statement on Sunday.
“I wish Donald Trump and the others injured a speedy recovery and express my condolences for the citizen who has fallen victim to this intolerable act of hatred and an attack on freedom.
“The United States, a great democracy, will certainly respond effectively and vigorously to any concept of violence”.
Centre-left Democratic Party (PD) leader Elly Schlein said, “Political violence must have no place within our democracies.”.
“We said this when there were other attacks on politicians in Europe in recent months, and we reiterate it clearly today after what happened in the USA.
“Those who care about democracy everywhere, in the United States and elsewhere, must now firmly oppose all forms of hate speech and political violence.”
Salvini shows his true colours with statement
Deputy Premier Matteo Salvini linked the attempt to assassinate Donald Trump to allegedly “violent tones” by figures on the Left of the political spectrum.
“Certain violent tones by the Left risk arming the hands of the weak-minded,” Salvini, the leader of the right-wing League party, said via social media. “It happened in the USA, it had also happened in Italy against (Silvio) Berlusconi,” he added. He was apparently referring to a 2009 attack on the late Italian ex-premier that required him to have hospital treatment after a protester threw a statuette in his face following a rally in Milan.
“I hope it won’t happen again”.
The post featured a link to an interview with Rai television in which he said: “I hope that this serves (as a lesson) to those who sow words of hate against right-wingers, fascists, racists, against Trump, Bolsonaro, Fico or other figures”.
Incredible, really, that Salvini feels people should not be able to voice opposition to those who express racist and fascist remarks. He has made his own position perfectly clear as to where he stands. However, to turn this into a side-show for European right-wing politics, when what a Deputy PM should be doing is calling for calm and damping-down the potential sparks of violence, shows his ignorance.
Several opposition politicians accused Salvini of trying to make use of the assassination attempt for political gain.
“Salvini lashes out against those who criticise racism and fascism, turning reality on its head, yet the person who shot Trump was a right-wing, pro-gun militant,” said Democratic Party (PD) Senator Enza Rando.
“The attack on Trump is a very serious incident. It would be better to remain silent, rather than exploit it.”
