Crosetto: "In Milan, part of the judiciary wants to replace the legislator."

"In Milan, a section of the judiciary wants to take the place of the legislator." Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said this regarding the investigation that also involves Mayor Beppe Sala . Also on the center-right side is Enrico Costa , a Forza Italia MP and vice president of the Chamber of Deputies' Justice Committee. He urges his political party "not to exploit the Milan investigation."

Crosetto: "The judiciary wants to replace the legislator."

Minister Crosetto writes on X: "I know that no one will be surprised by my position because principles come before any political or party position, and therefore I continue to believe that the judiciary should not and cannot replace the electorate. In Milan, a section of the investigating judiciary has even decided to replace the legislator, in the fields of urban planning, taxation, and labor, through regulatory interpretations that seem to me, in many parts, far from the provisions of the law and indeed very dangerous (for example, what is happening against some fashion and luxury companies, out of pure ideological spite, is incredible)."

"Often," the minister emphasizes, "these incidents are used as an opportunity to get rid of the adversary at hand, because that's how it's always been done when the tables are turned. Just think of hundreds of incidents that ended in acquittal, leading to resignations and political ordeals."

"For me, however," he continues, "this is yet another opportunity to demonstrate the diversity of those who always uphold due process, those who seek to understand by reading the documents (not stopping at press conferences and headlines), those who always believe in liberal principles, especially when they concern political opponents. I hope that, in the rapid pace required by events of this magnitude, we can understand the truth, but in the meantime, I continue to base my judgments on the presumption of innocence."

Costa: "The center-right should not exploit the Milan investigation."

Also on X, Costa writes: "The center-right should not exploit the Milan investigation. It should reject the temptation of a judicial push, which is offered on a silver platter, but which would give the judiciary the power to replace the electorate."

The Forza Italia MP continued: "In Milan, the investigating magistrates have decided—I emphasize, decided—to take the place of the legislator in the areas of urban planning and taxation through highly questionable regulatory interpretations. A mature politician must be aware of this, first and foremost, before viewing these events as an opportunity to get rid of their current opponent. It's true that if the situation had been reversed, as happened in Liguria with Toti, those in Campo Largo would be parading around, foaming at the mouth, calling for immediate resignations. But this is an opportunity to demonstrate that we are different, that we always believe in liberal principles, and we affirm them first and foremost when certain events affect our political opponents."