Deputy Premier and Transport Minister
Matteo Salvini's League party said Tuesday that the agreement it
had with the United Russia party is no longer valid following
Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.
This week the Lower House is voting on an opposition
no-confidence motion in Salvini over the League's links with the
ruling party in Russia.
"The war totally changed opinions and political relations with
Russia, which, before the invasion, was an important
interlocutor for all Italian governments," the League said.
"As previously reiterated, the 2017 proposed collaboration
between the League and United Russia is no longer valid after
the invasion of Ukraine.
"Even before that, there were no joint initiatives.
"The League's position is confirmed by votes in Parliament.
"It is regrettable that the House has to waste time on pointless
polemics triggered by the opposition".
Salvini has been under fire for saying that "a people is always
right when it votes" following Russian President Vladimir
Putin's recent re-election and for failing to blame Putin for
the death in a Siberian prison of opposition leader Alexei
Navalny.
Salvini has expressed admiration for Putin several times in the
past, but he has also condemned Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.
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