Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has stated that the ongoing investigation against her, related to the release of Libyan General Najim Osem Almashri—suspected of war crimes—could have damaging consequences for the state, including deterring foreign investors.
In an online address at a business conference in Milan, Meloni argued that the investigation “primarily harms the state” and raised concerns that it could discourage investments. She highlighted the case of the Norwegian fund Norges, which recently increased its investments in Italian sovereign bonds to over 8 billion euros, questioning how such news might affect the fund’s future decisions.
“After reading this news, how do you think this Norwegian investment fund, which just bought 8 billion euros of Italian government bonds, is more likely to buy nine, seven, or perhaps zero?” she said.
Meloni faces accusations of aiding and abetting a crime and misusing public funds concerning the release and repatriation of Almashri, a senior Libyan police officer.
Almashri, who had been detained under an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant on January 19 following a football match in Turin, was later released by a Rome appellate court and sent back to Libya. Almashri is accused by the ICC of war crimes and crimes against humanity in connection with his actions at the Mitiga prison in Libya since 2015.
