“Political pressure, it is a persecution of the judges” –

An all-round interview. Antonio Tajani, leader of Forza Italia, was a guest on the July 13 episode of Stasera Italia, a pre-evening show on Rete4 hosted by Sabrina Scampini. The first topic addressed was Giovanni Toti, governor of Liguria, who must remain under house arrest: “Resignation? The choice is up to him alone. It seemed to me like a relentless attack on Toti by those who decided not to give him back his freedom. It seems to me very much like political pressure on him. He must decide on any resignation, the choice is up to him alone. I have faith in the judiciary, I am always a guarantor and I start from the presumption of innocence, it is the judiciary that must prove Toti’s guilt and not he his innocence”.

We then move on to the words of Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for the Kremlin, on the Russian missiles aimed at European capitals: “It seems to me a threat to demonstrate even within the country that the Russian Federation is not afraid of the West, obviously we must not underestimate it but it seems to me a propaganda threat. At this stage Russia is working on disinformation. We do not want to wage war on anyone, we defend Ukraine’s right to independence, it is Russia that has violated civil coexistence. Neither Italy nor NATO – the Foreign Minister underlines – are at war with Russia, and at the Washington summit a clear position was expressed: that Russia cannot think of acting with impunity in Ukraine. If the principle that no one reacts passes, Russia can decide to attack another country”.

Tajani finally focuses on what is happening in the US: “I am the vice prime minister and foreign minister and it would be a serious mistake if I were to meddle in American political affairs. Transatlantic relations are not tied to this or that president. We worked well with Bush, with Reagan, with Trump, with Biden, with Clinton or with Obama. We are allies of different countries. I do not want to meddle in American electoral affairs, as well as in French ones. We are allies of France, not of a party or a government. Italy is a serious and reliable interlocutor of the United States, NATO and the European Union”.

“It seemed to me like a persecution once morest Giovanni Toti, he must decide on his possible resignation”

Antonio Tajani to #StaseraItalia pic.twitter.com/T2ageF9td6

— Tonight Italy (@StaseraItalia) July 13, 2024