Rightwing League leader, Deputy
Premier and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini was still under
fire Wednesday for refusing to blame Russian President Vladimir
Putin for the death in a Siberian prison Friday of prominent
dissident and opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
He also got more flak amid the League's reported failure to
formally sever ties to Putin's party, United Russia.
"It's unacceptable that Salvini won't be clear about their
relations with R u ssia," said centre-left opposition Democratic
Party (PD) leader Elly Schlein.
"There have been relations, we know. There's this accord that
has still not been torn up and this also undermines the
credibility of the government's position.
"Salvini is a minister today and there can't be any ambiguities
of any kind on what happened, on the Russian regime's clear
responsibility on the death of Navalny who was in custody"," she
said.
"There can't be ambiguities," Schelin reiterated, "and Salvini
must be much clearer on the condemnation of Putin and this
regime, and tear up any pre-existing tie".
Salvini has had overt pro-Putin stances in the past, on one
occasion sporting a t-shirt with the Russian leader's face on it
and saying half of the Kremlin chief was worth more than two
Italian presidents, referring to Sergio Mattarella.
On Navalny the League leader has said it is up to judges and
medical professionals to determine what caused the death.
Former premier and centrist Italia Viva (IV) leader matteo Renzi
also voiced more criticism of Salvini's stance Wednesday, saying
in an newspaper interview that "there is a glaring and
indisputable responsibility on the part of the Kremlin, and
denying that means denying reality".
Renzi added, in the interview with La Stampa: "You can't cancel
the t-shirt with Putin's face at the European Parliament, you
can't cancel the stroll in Red Square with the electoral placard
saying 'no to Renzi's referendum', and you can't cancel the
'give me half Putin in exchange for two Mattarellas' or 'I
prefer Putin to Renzi'".
Another centrist MP, Matteo Richetti, House whip for former
industry minister Carlo Calenda's Aazione (Action) party, told
la Repubbica: "The political responsibilities for Navalny's
death are clear, and Salvini must decide once and for all
whether Putin is to be condemned or not.
"In the second case it would be incompatible with staying in the
government of a country like Italy".
Calenda, for his part, has said the League is "still pro-Putin.
albeit less openly than in the past, out of political
calculation", and has said Azione will file a no confidence
motion in the deputy premier unless he formally announces that
the anti-migrant party's ties to United Russia have been ended.
Greene Europe leader Angelo Bonelli, for his part, said "Premier
(Giorgia) Meloni must immediately clarify with her deputy
premier, Salvini, the reasons for which the relationship between
the League and Putin's United Russia has not been dissolved".
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