A political firestorm erupted on Tuesday as a Member of Parliament affiliated with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s party stirred controversy by bringing a gun to a New Year’s Eve party, resulting in a shooting incident.
Emanuele Pozzolo, a legislator from Meloni’s far-right Brothers of Italy party, has openly confirmed ownership of the mini revolver—a purported 22-calibre North American Arms revolver—but asserts that he did not use it.
He explained that the discharge was accidental, resulting in a minor injury to the leg of a guest, the son-in-law of a bodyguard for junior justice minister Andrea Delmastro, who was also present.
‘I confirm that the shot was accidentally fired from a pistol I legally held but it was not me that fired,’ Pozzolo, 38, said in a statement cited by the La Repubblica daily.
An investigation is underway into the incident at the party in Rosazza near Turin, attended by approximately 30 guests, according to reports.
The story generated astonishment and outrage within the ranks of opposition politicians.
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Italy strictly regulates firearm possession; however, Meloni’s party proposed last month to lower the minimum age for obtaining a permit for a hunting rifle to 16.
‘We could not have imagined that the passion for weapons of Giorgia Meloni’s party was such that MPs would take them loaded to New Year’s Eve parties,’ said Elly Schlein, leader of the centre-left Democratic Party.
Former centrist prime minister Matteo Renzi added: ‘Why bring guns to a New Year’s Eve party in the presence of MPs and members of the government?’
‘Meloni’s (party) are not a ruling class. They are inadequate, incapable, unpresentable. And dangerous, first and foremost for themselves.’
At present, there has been no official response from either Meloni or her party.