Victory all the way for the ten former Italian far-left activists who took refuge in France and were threatened with extradition to their country of origin for acts of terrorism dating back to the 1970s and 1980s. The investigative chamber of the Paris Court of Appeal issued, on Wednesday June 29, a block unfavorable opinion for the ten extradition requests presented by Rome in the spring of 2021.
This is a real disappointment for the Italian State, which had issued ten arrest warrants in the spring of 2021. It is also a scathing disavowal for the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron, and the Minister of Justice , Eric Dupond-Moretti, who had made a commitment to their counterparts to carry out the evictions requested as soon as the courts had given a favorable opinion. It was a clear break with the “Mitterrand doctrine”, an unwritten rule dating back to the 1980s which wanted France to welcome Italian terrorists on the condition that they lay down their arms.
The decision is subject to cassation, but only on points of procedure. “We will wait to find out if the public prosecutor’s office files an appeal in cassation against the decision” and to know the motives of the investigating chamber in detail, reacted the lawyer of the Italian State, Mr.e William Julie.
When the investigation chamber opened its doors on Wednesday at 1.30 p.m., such a crowd had gathered in front of the small courtroom that only the defendants, their lawyers and their families were able to enter and hear the judge read her decision. Without revealing the reasons for her decisions, the president of the investigating chamber justified her unfavorable opinions by respect for private and family life and the right to a fair trial, provided for respectively by articles 8 and 6 of the Convention. European human rights. It ruled out the additional information requested for each of the procedures by the two Advocates General with regard to the date of the events and the duration of the procedure. The whole thing lasted less than fifteen minutes.
” It’s a shame “
At the statement of the decision, muffled cries and tears embraced several of the former militants, now aged 61 to 78, falling into the arms of their families present. Outside the room, relatives who came for the occasion exulted, clenching their fists and giving discreet cheers. A deputy of the League (far right), Daniele Belotti, wearing his green-white-red scarf, and members of the national association of carabinieri in ceremonial uniform tried, incredulous, to have the decision translated.
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