A radical Italian Antifa activist accused of attacking people with a hammer in Budapest has been elected to the European Parliament, potentially paving the way for his release from detention in Hungary.
Ilaria Salis, a 39-year-old teacher and “anti-fascist” activist currently under house arrest in Hungary, has won a seat in the European Parliament representing Italy’s Alliance of Green Left (AVS), ANSA reported. Reports.
Salis is accused of being part of a left-wing group, mainly made up of Germans, who allegedly attacked a group of so-called “neo-Nazis” at a rally on Feb. 11, 2023, to honor Nazi Waffen-SS soldiers and Hungarian allies who fought against the Red Army during the Soviet siege of Budapest in World War II.
The Antifa activist is currently in prison awaiting trial on attempted murder charges. House arrest Hungarian prosecutors sought an 11-year prison sentence for Salis, but her father Warned She could be jailed for up to 24 years.
But the activist may avoid jail or further prosecution under European Union law, which gives MEPs immunity across the EU while parliament is in session, meaning that this immunity won’t come into effect until she’s officially sworn in as a MEP.
Eugenio Rosco, the lawyer representing Ilaria Salis, said: Said The Messaggero“Procedurally, we must await the formal process of Mr Ilaria being appointed as a member of parliament.
“Once this step has been taken, we will ask the Hungarian judge to release her, because Ilaria has the right to immunity from any form of detention and to the suspension of criminal proceedings under Article 7(9) of the Protocol on the Immunity of Members of the European Parliament. Hungary has no choice but to take this into consideration and order her release.”
Italian teacher Ilaria Salis arrives at a court in Budapest, Hungary, on March 28, 2024, awaiting her trial for a neo-Nazi attack. Salis was arrested in Budapest in February 2023 and charged with three counts of attempted assault and membership of a far-left organisation after a counter-demonstration at a neo-Nazi rally. (Photo by Attila Kisvenedek/AFP) (Photo by Attila Kisvenedek/AFP via Getty Images)
However, such a move does not mean an acquittal, and it is possible that the Hungarian presiding judge could ask the EU to strip Mr. Salis of his immunity so he can face prosecution. Mr. Salis maintains his innocence, but the Budapest court claims to have video evidence which could be passed to a European Parliament committee to consider stripping Mr. Salis of his immunity.
The case has sparked a diplomatic spat between Hungarian leader Viktor Orban and longtime ally Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who has personally lobbied for the left-wing activist’s release. Italy objects to Antifa militants appearing in court in chains, while Hungary says there was nothing impropriety in the conditions Salis was held in prison.
To help secure her release, the Alliance of the Left-Greens (AVS) nominated her as a candidate for the European elections. Following her victory, AVS leader Nicola Fratoianni said: Said“I can say one thing now. We heard a lot of things. They accused us of using our candidacy for instrumental purposes. I think we can say that we did the right thing.”
Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini Said“It is always right when the people vote. Just as it was right to nominate Ilaria Salis, it is right for Italians to vote for her… This is democracy, this is right.”
