The Italian government today vowed to guarantee the right of far-right Northern League leader Matteo Salvini to freedom of speech the day after the clashes on his arrival in Naples (southern Italy).
"Something very important happened yesterday and we have to think about it," said Interior Minister Marco Miniti.
Italian police are still searching for three people after making three arrests yesterday during violent clashes in Naples between police and hooded activists on the sidelines of a demonstration by hundreds of people protesting Salvini's arrival.
"In a democracy, it is fundamental that everyone has the right to speak, and it is even more fundamental for those whose views are far removed from ours," Miniti added.
Salvini, a populist who faces hostile protests whenever he leaves his "manor" in northern Italy, said he was going to file a defamation lawsuit against the city's left-wing mayor, Luigi de Magistris, who had described him as a foreigner before his visit. fascist full of contempt for the Italian south.
De Magistries had tried to use his mayoral powers to prevent Salvini from coming to Naples, but the prefect, acting on orders from the interior ministry, blocked his attempt.
"De Magistries must resign instead of accusing me of being a Nazi-fascist," Salvini said today. "We have never seen anything like this in Naples and the worst thing is that the mayor supports it."
The mayor, who last week said he supported the protests against Salvini, said he did not approve of what happened yesterday Saturday.
Hooded activists hurled stones, flares and smoke bombs, as well as Molotov cocktails at police riot police, who responded with tear gas. The clashes lasted more than an hour and vandalized several vehicles, while trash cans were overturned on the streets. No casualties were reported.
Most media outlets have criticized the way the mayor of Naples handled the visit, saying he should not have allowed Salvini to appear as a preacher of freedom of expression.
Source: newsbeast.gr