Deputy Premier and Interior Minister
Matteo Salvini said on the Seawatch German NGO rescue ship and
its 65 rescued migrants Friday "the premier (Giuseppe Conte) and
the 5-Star (M5S) minister don't come into it, human traffickers
won't get to Italy any more".
The attack on Conte opened a new front in the tensions
between Salvini and his government partner, M5S leader Luigi Di
Maio.
Salvini also said the choice of the next European Central
Bank chief would depend on the result of the upcoming European
elections.
Di Maio retorted that Italy has seen strongmen leaders in
the past and felt no nostalgia for them.
"We've already had men alone at the commands and we certainly
don't miss them," said Di Maio, who is deputy premier like
Salvini.
Di Maio accused Salvini of wanting to "raise the level of
clashes" amid rows about a graft probe that hit a League mayor
and other issues.
The M5S leader also defended Premier Conte, whom Salvini had
slammed over alleged lenience towards the migrant rescue NGO
boats that the League leader has banned from Italy.
""There's not a lot to add about the attacks on the premier,
who has all my support, and the government's," said Di Maio.
"I just say one thing, if everyone thinks one thing and there
is only one contrary, perhaps that individual is wrong," he
said, apparently referring to Salvini.
Di Maio said Salvini was "arrogant like" ex-premier and
former Democratic Party (PD) leader Matteo Renzi.
"I can't comment the bullying and arrogance of this guy, who
recalls Renzi when they asked him to get (former PD minister
Maria Elena) Boschi to resign," said Di Maio after Salvini
slammed Premier Giuseppe Conte on the SeaWatch migrant rescue
ship case.
"One thing is certain, this bullying is increasing, above all
on immigration, when the League is difficulty with corruption
scandals.
"I won't stand for representing this great stratagem for
distracting from the emergency of the country which is not at
this moment immigration, but corruption".
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