Ilaria Salis candidate in the European elections with the Greens and Left Alliance

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“Greens and Left Alliance in agreement with Roberto Salis has decided to nominate his daughter Ilaria, detained in Hungaryin conditions that seriously violate people’s rights, on their lists in the next European elections”.

They stated this in a note Nicola Fratoianni and Angelo Bonelli of the Green Left Alliance (Avs), confirming the news given by Sheet.

Salis, a Milanese teacher, has been detained in Hungary for more than a year awaiting trial on charges of attacking a neo-Nazi militant. If convicted, she faces up to 24 years in prison.

The case took on international importance after the images broadcast by Tg3 in which Salis appeared before the judges in Budapest at the beginning of February with handcuffs on her wrists and feet and kept on a leash.

In a hearing on March 28, the court denied Salis the possibility of serving precautionary custody under house arrest, motivating the decision with the possibility of escape.

The press release from the Alleanza Verdi e Sinistra on the candidacy of Ilaria Salis

“In these hours – explain Fratoianni and Bonelli in the Avs note – the national management groups are discussing the modalities of this a choice that aims to protect the rights and dignity of a European citizenalso by the inertia of the Italian authorities to obtain a rapid release from prison in favor of house arrest denied with the latest decision by the Hungarian judges.”

“The idea is that a great and generous battle can be generated around Ilaria Salis’ candidacy so that the European Union defends the principles of the Rule of Law and reaffirms the inviolability of fundamental human rights throughout its territory and in each of the member states.

Ours – continue the two Avs leaders – is a gesture that can serve to denounce uncivilized methods of detention, especially towards those who are still waiting for a judgement. In this way, Green Europe and the Italian Left intend to bring legislative initiatives to the future European Parliament to safeguard the rights of people involved in criminal proceedings in all countries of the Union. A press conference will be called in the next few days.”

While the prime minister Giorgia Meloni he had commented on the hypothesis: «The candidacy would not change anything with respect to the work that the government is doing» but «the I don’t know how much politicizing this matter helps in itself».

What happens now to Ilaria Salis: if elected she will be released from prison

According to Aurora D’Agostino, lawyer of the association of democratic jurists, if elected to the European Parliament, Ilaria Salis she should be released from prison under the rules on parliamentary immunity.

D’Agostino, appointed as an international observer, explains that “Ilaria Salis would see the end of the horrible conditions of detention and containment that she is suffering in Hungarian prisons”.

Lawyer Salis in Hungary: the candidacy alone could give her freedom

Gyorgy MagyarSalis’ Hungarian lawyer, however, believes that the consequences of his client’s candidacy in the European elections are “uncertain”.

“In Hungary, parliamentary immunity starts from the moment of candidacybut I don’t know how the matter is regulated in Italy”, the lawyer said.

“Of course, if she were elected as an MEP, she would be entitled to immunity, and in order to continue the criminal trial against her, the Hungarian Court would have to request the suspension of that immunity. It would then be up to the future European Parliament to rule on the case.”

However, it is uncertain whether the Court will consider the immunity applicable or not, since the facts judged in the trial precede the election. The defense could urge the Court to rule on the matter.