(see related stories) In calling Roberto Salis, the father of 39-year-old anti-fascist Ilaria Salis on trial in Hungary for allegedly attacking two neo Nazis in Budapest over a year ago, President Sergio Mattarella sent an important signal to all Italian citizens, Debora Serracchiani, the head of justice for the centre-left opposition Democratic Party (PD), said onSaturday.
"President Mattarella has given a great sign of human and institutional attention to Ilaria Salis's father and at the same time to all Italian citizens, to whom he said: 'You are notable'," said Serracchiani.
"I believe that gestures of this kind are needed by all thosewho find themselves in situations where their individual rightsare being compressed.
"It is clear that the Presidency of the Republic is an office of the utmost institutional and democratic guarantee that is to be preserved with the utmost dear,” she added.
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