(AFP) Under-fire Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Saturday rejected any responsibility of her government for a devastating shipwreck off Italy’s southern coast last weekend which left at least 69 people dead.
“The situation is as simple as it is tragic: We received no emergency signals from Frontex,” the European border and coast guard agency, Meloni insisted, dismissing claims authorities were slow to react.
“We did everything possible to save lives as soon as we were alerted to a problem … we were not forewarned,” said Meloni, whose far-right government takes a hardline stance on migration, during a visit to the United Arab Emirates.
The government is under pressure as it faces opposition calls for Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi to resign.
