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A twist in the Chamber. Terzi resigns in the face of Monti

(BRUSSELS2) Italian Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi today announced his resignation before the Chamber of Deputies. A theatrical gesture that surprised everyone, including its Prime Minister Mario Monti, who had not been kept informed. It was at the end of an urgent communication that he made in the Chamber with his colleague for the Defence, Di Paola, on the fate of marines detained in India that he announced his decision. “I am resigning because for 40 years I have considered that it is necessary to safeguard the reputation of the country, of the armed forces and of Italian diplomacy " did he declare. " My voice remained unknown. As Minister, I have expressed serious reservations about the sudden decision to return to India on March 22 the two soldiers ».

The consequence of a diplomatic fiasco

This exit is one of the consequences of the diplomatic fiasco in which the Italian government has become entangled in recent weeks, firstly by refusing the return at the end of their leave of absence of marines who are the subject of a judicial inquiry in India (Enrica Lexie affair) then by validating their return, after a few days of significant tension between New Delhi and Rome. Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi was particularly involved in this decision taken, apparently, in consultation with Mario Monti. And he had so far resisted all calls for resignation launched by the opposition.

Mario Monti takes over as interim

It is Mario Monti who will take over the Foreign Affairs portfolio on an interim basis. The government has indeed resigned after the legislative elections which deprived it of a majority and pending the formation of a new government by Luigi Bersani, the leader of the left, winner of the elections but who does not however have a majority in the Senate. .

Di Paola remains on board

Defense Minister Di Paola does not intend to follow this path. "This would be easy, free of charge. But that would be a mistake I won't abandon the ship in trouble, with Maximilien and Sauveur (both soldiers) on board, until my last day in the office " did he declare.

The wrath of the army

The Chief of Staff of the army, Admiral Luigi Binelli Mantelli, had published three days ago denouncing, in a statement sent to the press, the treatment of the file by the political leaders. " I hope that this issue, which is increasingly taking on the tone of farce, will end as soon as possible and that our Fusiliers, representatives of the State, as well as all military personnel operating abroad for peace and stability, will quickly return to the Italian jurisdiction”. A press release that is not only personal. It expresses the anger that reigns in military circles, especially the navy, which feels abandoned by the state.

Nicolas Gros Verheyde

Chief editor of the B2 site. Graduated in European law from the University of Paris I Pantheon Sorbonne and listener to the 65th session of the IHEDN (Institut des Hautes Etudes de la Défense Nationale. Journalist since 1989, founded B2 - Bruxelles2 in 2008. EU/NATO correspondent in Brussels for Sud-Ouest (previously West-France and France-Soir).

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