Musk criticized Rome judges for blocking anti-immigration initiative
14/11/2024 5:45
President Sergio Mattarella
told Elon Musk on Wednesday not to interfere in Italian affairs
after the U.S. billionaire said Rome judges blocking a
government anti-immigration initiative should be sent packing.
The highly unusual statement from the Italian head of state came
against a backdrop of growing tension between the ruling
coalition and the judiciary that has attracted the attention of
Musk, who is a friend of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
"These judges need to go," Musk wrote on X on Tuesday, referring
to a panel of Rome magistrates who had questioned the legality
of a government initiative to detain asylum-seekers in Albania
-- a measure aimed at discouraging irregular immigration.
The magistrates' move meant a small group of migrants just
taken to Albania had to be brought to Italy, casting doubt on
Meloni's flagship plan to crackdown on irregular arrivals.
Musk's comment was splashed on the front pages of Italian
newspapers on Wednesday and came just hours before U.S.
President-elect Donald Trump had given him a leading role aimed
at creating more efficient government in the United States.
"Italy is a great democratic country and ... knows how to
take care of itself," said Mattarella, who consistently tops
opinion polls as the most respected leader in Italy.
"Anyone, particularly if, as announced, he is about to
assume an important role of government in a friendly and allied
country, must respect its sovereignty and cannot give himself
the task of issuing it instructions."
In response, Musk issued a statement via his Italian
representative Andrea Stroppa, expressing "respect" for
Mattarella and Italy's constitution, but reaffirming his
intention to "continue to freely express his opinions".
Saying he conveyed the same message in a "friendly" call
with Meloni, Musk also expressed hope that Italian-US relations
would grow even stronger and said he looked forward to meeting
Mattarella soon.
While Meloni did not comment on the U.S. entrepreneur's social
media comments, deputy premier and hard-right party leader
Matteo Salvini welcomed them. "@elonmusk is right," he said on X
on Tuesday.
EU COURT AT CENTRE STAGE
The controversy revolves around an October ruling by the EU's
Court of Justice (ECJ), which said that no nation of origin
could be considered safe if even just a part of it was dangerous
-- a position that called into question Italy's policy of trying
to repatriate visa-less migrants to their home countries.
The ECJ ruling referred to a Czech case but holds for the
whole European Union and landed as Meloni's government was
building detention centres in Albania tasked with processing
migrants picked up at sea as they tried to reach Italy.
The centres are meant to fast-track repatriations, but the
Rome court said this should not happen before the ECJ provides
further clarification.
As a result the two small groups of migrants taken to
Albania in the past three weeks have been almost immediately
transferred to Italy, leaving the scheme in legal limbo.
Italy's supreme court is due to review the legality of the
Rome court move in early December, but the final word is likely
to remain with the ECJ, legal experts say.
An ECJ official said on Wednesday the Luxembourg-based court
could take months, or at least weeks, to clarify whether Italy
can legally repatriate migrants to countries that it deems safe,
such as Egypt, Tunisia and Bangladesh.
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