Rightwing League leader, Deputy Premier and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini was still underfire Wednesday for refusing to blame Russian President VladimirPutin for the death in a Siberian prison Friday of prominent dissident and opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
He also got more flak amid the League's reported failure to formally sever ties to Putin's party, United Russia.
"It's unacceptable that Salvini won't be clear about theirrelations with Russia," said centre-left opposition DemocraticParty (PD) leader Elly Schlein.
"There have been relations, we know. There's this accord that has still not been torn up and this also undermines the credibility of the government's position.
"Salvini is a minister today and there can't be any ambiguities of any kind on what happened, on the Russian regime's clear responsibility on the death of Navalny who was in custody"," shesaid.
"There can't be ambiguities," Schelin reiterated, "and Salvin must be much clearer on the condemnation of Putin and this regime, and tear up any pre-existing tie".
Salvini has had overt pro-Putin stances in the past, on one occasion sporting a t-shirt with the Russian leader's face on it and saying half of the Kremlin chief was worth more than two Italian presidents, referring to Sergio Mattarella.
On Navalny the League leader said it is up to judges and medical professionals to determine what caused the death.
Former prime minister and centrist Italia Viva (IV) leader Matteo Renzialso voiced more criticism of Salvini's stance Wednesday, saying in a newspaper interview that "there is a glaring and indisputable responsibility on the part of the Kremlin, and denying that means denying reality".
Renzi added, in the interview with La Stampa: "You can't cancel the t-shirt with Putin's face at the European Parliament, you can't cancel the stroll in Red Square with the electoral placardsaying 'no to Renzi's referendum', and you can 't cancel the'give me half Putin in exchange for two Mattarellas' or 'I prefer Putin to Renzi'".
Another centrist MP, Matteo Richetti, House whip for former industry minister Carlo Calenda's Aazione (Action) party, told La Repubbica: "The political responsibilities for Navalny's death are clear, and Salvini must decide once and for all whether Putin is to be condemned or not.
"In the second case it would be incompatible with staying in the government of a country like Italy".
Calenda, for his part, has said the League is "still pro-Putin.
albeit less openly than in the past, out of political calculation",
Greene Europe leader Angelo Bonelli, for his part, said "Premier(Giorgia) Meloni must immediately clarify with her deputypremier, Salvini, the reasons for which the relationship between the League and Putin's United Russia has not been dissolved".
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