Calling into question the policethreatens the Italian republic's hold over public life, DeputyPremier, Transport Minister and rightwing League party leaderMatteo Salvini said Thursday on criticism of Friday's policingof a pro-Palestinian demonstration in Pisa that ended with fivestudents including two minors in ER and drew a rare rebuke fromPresident Sergio Mattarella.
"Questioning hundreds of thousands of men and women in uniform is dangerous for the Republic's resilience," said the anti-migrant leader.
"When people demonstrate by asking for permission and not insulting the police officers, not spitting at them, they risk nothing," he said.
The images of the clashes in Pisa, where officers were seen repeatedly hitting students over the head with their truncheons, "certainly made an impression on me, but as far as I am concerned, one never questions the forces of law and order," said Salvini.
"A policeman, like a Carabiniere, a worker, an engineer, aminister, like a bartender can make mistakes.
"That's just a fact, and you works to make fewer and fewer mistakes."
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