French interior minister scolds far-right MP for supporting Italy over migrants row

ANKARA (AA) – French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin has criticized Mathilde Paris, a lawmaker from the far-right political party National Rally, for “lashing out at the government rather than the Italians” over migrants row.

Asked about the Ocean Viking row with Italy, in a National Assembly session, Darmanin said: “I am very surprised that lawmakers who call themselves patriots prefer lashing out at the government rather than the Italians.”

The diplomatic row between Rome and Paris started early this month after Italy pushed France to allow the arrival in a French port of a humanitarian ship, the Ocean Viking, with 230 rescued migrants aboard after Rome had repeatedly ignored its requests for disembarking in an Italian port.

French politicians Marine Le Pen and Eric Zemmour reacted to Darmanin’s declarations. Speaking to private broadcaster CNews, Marine Le Pen said those remarks were “serious” and that Italy is a friend.

Another far-right politician Zemmour tweeted: “Darmanin you are the only one responsible for the Ocean Viking fiasco. Labeling Italy as an enemy of France is a serious error.”

After Giorgia Meloni took power in September as the prime minister, Italy adopted a hardline approach towards NGO ships that request a place to disembark hundreds of migrants rescued while in distress in the Mediterranean.

A controversial decree pushed by Italy’s Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi led to a “selective” approach in deciding who can disembark from the charity ships.

The new “selective” approach to migrants’ arrivals raised worries in Italy and abroad from humanitarian organizations and international observers that accused Rome of violating maritime laws and refugees’ rights to seek asylum after risking their lives at sea.