Antonio Tajani

Tajani's appearance wearing a 'Make America Great Again' cap at a Board of Peace event prompted mockery and opposition criticism, interpreted as signalling excessive partisan alignment with Donald Trump.

State of the evidence

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Directly implicated

Tajani announced that Italy had decided to request 14,9 billion euros under the EU SAFE defence mechanism, prompting tensions and calls for clarification within the coalition over borrowing and defence policy.

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Political responsibility

During the crisis sparked by the release and repatriation to Libya of Osama Almasri, who was wanted by the ICC, Tajani said that the International Criminal Court itself should be investigated, fuelling criticism of the Italian government's attitude towards the court.

State of the evidence

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Personally implicated

A complaint submitted to the International Criminal Court named Tajani, Giorgia Meloni and Guido Crosetto, accusing them of complicity in genocide because of Italy's support for Israel. The existence of the complaint became public in political debate.

State of the evidence

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Italy did not sign a European declaration on promoting policies supporting LGBTIQ communities, a decision criticised by opposition parties and associations. Tajani explained that gay people's rights should be defended without conflating them with 'gender theory'.

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Political responsibility

During a commemoration in Basovizza, Tajani proclaimed 'viva Trieste italiana, viva l'Istria italiana, viva la Dalmazia italiana', prompting strong reactions in Croatia and Slovenia, where his words were interpreted as revisionist or irredentist.

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Personally implicated

Tajani stated that Benito Mussolini had also done 'positive things' before criticising the racial laws and alliance with Hitler. The wording triggered intense controversy in Italy and the European Parliament.

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Personally implicated

Tajani caused controversy by saying that a large proportion of potential recipients of the citizenship income benefit would be Roma and foreigners, prompting accusations of stigmatisation.

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Attribution

Personally implicated

The European Parliament's committee of inquiry into vehicle emissions heard Tajani about the European Commission's response to evidence of test manipulation and information-sharing between departments.

State of the evidence

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