"With the Meloni government in power, we live in a police state": this is the tirade of MEP Ilaria Salis, who this morning underwent a pre-trial search in her hotel room in Rome. Salis is in the capital where she will participate in the "No Kings" demonstration this afternoon.
"The effect of the security decree," Salis explained on social media, "let's realize how far we've come with the Meloni government in power. But we mustn't let ourselves be intimidated. Demonstrating is a right, and we must defend it with all our might. See you in Piazza Repubblica."
From that square at 2 pm, the national "No Kings" procession took shape towards Piazza San Giovanni in Laterano, with the motto "Against kings, their wars, against authoritarianism and repression".
An initiative that claims to pursue various issues: opposition to rearmament, criticism of authoritarian tendencies, and defense of civil rights.
"They asked me a whole series of questions, about my arrival in Rome, when I would arrive, how I would get there..." the MEP explained on the sidelines. " But they also asked me questions about the demonstration: whether I intended to go to the demonstration, whether I even had any objects dangerous for the demonstration. The check lasted about an hour and then it was over, but they didn't give me a report. Around 7:30, I was awakened by the police in the room where I was. They knocked on the door," she explained, "they said my name, said they were the police, and asked me to open the door. I did, they asked me for an ID, which I gave them, and I also told them I'm an MEP. They didn't explain the reason for the visit; they simply said it was for an investigation."
The police headquarters: "The decree has nothing to do with it."
"The staff who intervened simply requested documents from her and the person with her. When they realized it was the MEP, all checks were stopped without access to the hotel room. Therefore, no search was carried out and no action was taken." This was stated by the Rome Police Headquarters.
"Under no circumstances can this identification be linked to the recent public order regulations," it added. "Therefore, it is categorically excluded," it emphasized, "that this could have been a preventative check carried out in relation to today's demonstration, but rather an act required by international obligations."
The report apparently came from Germany.
"We demand that Piantedosi provide an answer today and that Tajani, who is the Foreign Minister, summon the German ambassador," Nicola Fratoianni (Avs) requested. "This is a huge issue. We will then take action with our parliamentary groups in Europe on the European Parliament and the Commission, but in the meantime, we demand that the authorities of the Republic tell us what they are doing . We want the government of the Republic to provide these answers. We demand that Piantedosi and Tajani provide them."
(Unioneonline/E.Fr.)
