Deputy Premier and Interior
Minister Matteo Salvini said Tuesday that the MEPs of his League
party will vote against a motion in the European Parliament to
start the so-called Article 7 procedure against Hungary over
alleged violations of the rule of law.
Ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia is also set to
back Hungarian Premier Viktor Orban.
But the MEPs of the 5-Star Movement, the League's government
coalition partner, are going to vote in favour of Hungary being
censured.
"We'll vote in defence of Orban," Salvini said.
"The European Parliament cannot put peoples and elected
governments on trial".
Salvini said it was not be an issue for the ruling coalition
that the M5S have adopted a different stance.
"There is no problem with the M5S over the vote against
Orban," Salvini said.
"Everyone is free to choose what to do. The League in Europe
chooses freedom".
Sources said Berlusconi had called Orban to reassure him that
FI would vote against.
FI and Orban's Fidesz party are both in the European People's
Party (EPP).
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