Giorgia Meloni, the Prime Minister of Italy, has alleged that French President Emmanuel Macron is conducting electioneering during the ongoing G7 summit in Puglia, citing his push for a parliamentary election in France aimed at combating the rise of far-right influence.
On the inaugural day of the summit held at Borgo Egnazia resort in Puglia, Meloni emphasized that there is no justification for sparking controversy over matters on which consensus has been reached for a significant duration.
“And, I think it is profoundly wrong, in difficult times like these, to use a precious forum like the G7 to campaign,” the Italian premier added.
Meloni’s amicable interactions with fellow leaders were evident as she welcomed them to the G7 Summit. However, a discernible strain was observed in her greeting with Macron.
According to diplomats at the summit, Italy has insisted on the exclusion of any mention of “safe and legal abortion” from the forthcoming Group of Seven summit’s final statement, as reported by Reuters news agency.
Remarkably, the communique issued after the 2023 G7 summit in Japan emphasized the importance of “access to safe and legal abortion as well as post-abortion care.”
The confrontation between Meloni and Macron, characterized by their tumultuous past, occurs amidst growing concern over Macron’s sudden decision to call for snap elections, a move that has the potential to send shockwaves across the continent.
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