Ilaria Salis is running as a candidate in the European Parliament elections by the Italian political formation Red-Green Alliance, which confirmed on Thursday evening that the woman detained in Hungary was added to their list. With the nomination, they want to start a generous struggle in order for the European Union to protect the "principles of the rule of law".

In a statement, the Red-Green Alliance (AVS) stated that, in agreement with Roberto Salis, Ilaria Salis' father, it decided to run as a candidate for Ilaria Salis, who is detained in Hungary under conditions that, according to the statement, "seriously violate people's rights."

The party association emphasized that

with the designation, they want to ensure the rights and dignity of a European citizen.

On behalf of Ilaria Salis, the AVS "wants to launch a great and generous struggle for the European Union to protect the principles of the rule of law".

AVS was founded before the last Italian parliamentary elections in 2022 as an alliance of Green Europe and the Italian Left (SI). It has four representatives in the Roman upper house, eleven in the lower house, and one in the European Parliament in factions of other larger associations or as independents.

Nicola Fratoianni, Secretary General of SI and President of AVS, told the Radio Popolare radio channel on Thursday evening that Ilaria Salis will most likely be the leader of the list in the north-east Italy district of the association in the June European competition. To enter, the party must exceed the four percent threshold, which it did not reach in the last Italian parliamentary elections.

Speaking to the right-wing daily Il Giornale, political analyst Lorenzo Pregliasco, one of the founders of the Youtrend polling company, believed that

The nomination of Ilaria Salis rather helps the AVS, as the announcement increases the association's profile in the election campaign.

In the left-wing daily La Repubblica, international lawyer Marina Castellaneta said that

the nomination alone is not enough for Ilaria Salis to leave prison. You can only get immunity if you are elected

he declared.

Responding to journalists at the EU summit in Brussels, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni emphasized that the nomination of Ilaria Salis "does not change the attitude and work of the government so far" in the matter. However, he added that, as he has already stated several times, he still thinks that "politicizing the case does not help".

Member of the European Parliament of the right-wing League, Susanna Ceccardi, called the nomination of Ilaria Salis a shame:

“the left is offering exoneration to a person accused of very serious crimes. (…) Ilaria Salis should defend herself in court, not against the court.”

Previously, the left-wing Democratic Party (PD) raised the possibility of Ilaria Salis' European nomination, but the party's general secretary, Elly Schlein, ultimately ruled it out.

Roberto Salis explained that his daughter's nomination does not mean an escape from the court proceedings in Hungary, on the contrary, it helps him to "conduct (the court hearing) in full protection of his rights, and the political path he has now chosen definitely fits his political activities so far".

MTI

Cover image: Photo: Magyar Nemzet / Máté Bach