President Sergio Mattarella told Roberto Salis, the father of 39-year-old anti-fascist IlariaSalis who is on trial in Hungary for allegedly attacking two neoNazis in Budapest over a year ago, that he had been "hoping for different days" after Hungarian authorities rejected her requestfor house arrest on Thursday, sources said on Saturday.
During their telephone call Mattarella reportedly added that he understood Salis's state of mind and expressed his closeness to him, as well as assuring him that he would do everything within his power to help him.
On an operational level this is limited and is exercised through the government, he added.
Salis reportedly expressed his gratitude for the call and for the speed of Mattarella's response to Friday's letter, which he said aimed to highlight the disparity in the treatment of Italian citizens.
"The difference between our system, inspired by European values, and their system" has led to this inequality, Mattarella reportedly replied, adding: "This disparity has struck our public opinion".
The president reportedly ended the five-minute call by telling Salis that that they would be able to talk again in due course.
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