Italian navy should blockade Libya to stop migrants, PM hopeful says

The founder of a far-right Italian party and frontrunner to be the country’s next leader has called for a blockade of Libya to stop migrants crossing the Mediterranean. 

Giorgia Meloni, leader of the Brothers of Italy party, wants the Italian navy to blockade the north African coast so that all migrants can be screened before leaving to ascertain whether they are genuine refugees.  

Those who can prove their refugee status should be allowed through, Meloni said, while those who cannot should be sent home. 

The 45-year-old is current frontrunner to replace Mario Draghi in a general election that is due to be held in September after Draghi’s government collapsed.

Ms Meloni wants all new arrivals – both migrants and refugees – to be detained in Africa so their eligibility to travel can be assessed before any of them are allowed to come to Italy (file)

Meloni, who counts the likes of Italy’s former interior minister Matteo Salvini and former leader Silvio Berlusconi as her allies, made the comments at the weekend.

Speaking to a TV channel owned by the Berlusconi family, she said: ‘The problem of migrant arrivals on our shores must be tackled at its source, with a “naval blockade”.’

Likening the plan to EU proposals to get tough on border security, she added: ‘[This] is no different than a European mission to negotiate together with Libya, the possibility to block the inflatable boats during their departure.’

But Meloni’s plans came under attack by political opponents, who said any attempt to blockade the shores of a foreign nation would be a de-facto declaration of war.

‘Meloni, do you know that under international law it is considered an act of war,’ tweeted former house speaker Laura Boldrini.

‘Do you know that more ships would be required than the navy has? Do you know the number of dead would outnumber those rejected?’ 

Salvini – who led a campaign against migrant arrivals in his time as interior minister – also distanced himself, having already pitched legal reforms as a solution.

But Meloni remained undeterred, writing on Facebook that: ‘Those who blabber on today that the naval blockade cannot be done because it is “an act of war” demonstrate their total ignorance on the issue of immigration.’ 

Meloni’s plans have been put forward by her Brother of Italy party before, but have now come under attack as a de-facto declaration of war on Libya (file image, Italian police boat)

Tens of thousands of desperate migrants arrive in Italy each year, many of them via the tiny island of Lampedusa near the Italian and Tunisian coasts (pictured)

Italy has become one of Europe’s main points of arrival for migrants crossing the Mediterranean, with the issue dominating politics in recent election cycles

Meloni is on track to become Italy’s first ever female leader following a September 25 election sparked by Draghi’s resignation as Italy’s Prime Minister.

Her party – Brothers of Italy – is seen as the successor to Italy’s old fascist movement, and she began her career in politics in the Italian Social Movement which was founded by ex-fascists after the Second World War.

From there, she found her way into Berlusconi’s People of Freedom party before quitting in 2013 to form her own organisation – the Brothers of Italy.

Despite maintaining the Social Movement’s old flame symbol as part of their logo, the Brothers deny support for fascism.

Meloni said last year that there was “no room for those nostalgic for fascism” in her party, and has opposed Italy’s unelected technocrat leaders.

But some in the party have been found to have links to fascists.

Last year a Brothers MEP was suspended after an undercover documentary showed him discussing illegal funding with extremists who performed fascist salutes and made racist jokes. 

Aside from the naval blockade, Maloni has also proposed fines for NGO vessels rescuing migrants from the sea and bringing them to Italian reception centres.

Cracking down on NGOs was one of Salvini’s aims while in office. 

Meloni’s party is seen by critics as successor to Italy’s old fascist movements, and her allies include populists Matteo Salvini (left) and Silvio Berlusconi (right)

Meloni currently leads opinion polls six weeks before Italians vote in a snap election sparked when Draghi was forced to resign as Prime Minister.

The issue of migration has once-again emerged as the dominant issue for Italians, which the political right wing is hoping to capitalise on.

Italy is one of the main ‘reception centres’ for migrants coming from Africa and the Middle East to Europe, with tens of thousands arriving each year.

In 2021 alone, around 67,500 refugees and migrants arrived in the country – around half landing on the small island of Lampedusa, near the costs of Tunisia and Libya.

Attempts to form a centre-left coalition to take on the right-wingers largely fell apart on Monday, giving a boost to Italy’s populists.

Just days after agreeing a pact with the centre-left Democratic Party – who are neck-and-neck with Meloni in opinion polls – the smaller Azione party withdrew, saying it could not work with left-wingers brought in to boost the alliance.

“You cannot explain (to voters) that to defend the constitution you make a pact with people you know you will never govern with,” Azione leader Carlo Calenda, a moderate, told Corriere della Sera daily.

Italy’s political system favours coalitions, and while Meloni has a strong alliance with Matteo Salvini’s anti-immigration League and Silvio Berlusconi’s Forza Italia, Letta is struggling to bring together the disparate progressive parties.

Letta accused Calenda of being unwilling to compromise with anyone, and also railed at former premier Matteo Renzi, leader of the Italia Viva party, for refusing to join his alliance.

“It’s a way to help Meloni and Salvini,” Letta told La Stampa newspaper, while adding that talks were now over, and he would focus on the campaign.