Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni warned that an investigation into her over the release of a Libyan war crimes suspect could hurt Italy’s image and scare away foreign investors.

Meloni, speaking at a business conference in Milan, said the investigation harms the country and makes her “crazy.”

She is being investigated for allegedly helping a Libyan police officer, Osama Elmasry Njeem, who was arrested in Italy in January on charges from the International Criminal Court.

Njeem was released two days later due to a mistake in his arrest and was sent back to Libya on a government plane.

Meloni said this controversy is damaging Italy’s reputation, pointing out that news of the investigation made headlines in major international outlets, including the Financial Times.

She worried this could affect foreign investors like Norway’s wealth fund, which recently bought more than 8 billion euros of Italian government bonds. Meloni questioned whether such investors would be less likely to buy more after hearing the news.

Despite the investigation, Meloni and her party remain popular, with her conservative Brothers of Italy party reaching its highest support in nearly two years, according to polls (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/italys-meloni-probe-against-me-may-push-away-foreign-investors-2025-01-30

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