ROME (AFP) – Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has been forced to deny tensions within her coalition government, after leaked messages revealed party members privately mocked Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini.
Salvini, head of the far-right anti-immigrant League, is labelled “ridiculous”, “incapable” and a “superficial waffler” in WhatsApp groups featuring high-ranking members of Meloni’s far-right Brothers of Italy party.
The messages, published by a journalist in a book, date to before Brothers of Italy and the League joined forces to govern in 2022.
Members of Meloni’s party, which has its roots in the neo-fascist Italian Social Movement, have said they may take legal action.
Meloni took to X late on Friday to insist the “forced and instrumentalised controversy” would not “tarnish our relationship”.
She posted a photograph of Salvini with his arm around her, while she laughs.
“We have faced many battles alongside Matteo Salvini and will continue to work side by side, with loyalty and determination, for the good of Italy,” she said.
Most of the leaked messages were written when Brothers of Italy was a relatively little party, aiming to steal right-wing voters away from the League, according to the book’s author, journalist Giacomo Salvini.
Those cited include party members who are now ministers or hold key roles in Meloni’s office.
Salvini said it was “not pleasant to read certain things”.
“If there is something that goes back to the past, it’s in very bad taste, but it’s not a political problem because we were on different fronts,” he was quoted by ANSA agency as saying.
“Of course, if remarks of a certain kind were made by allies now, when we are governing together, that would be a different kettle of fish,” he said.
