Salvini described as “nonsense” the accusations to that effect made on Thursday in an article published in the newspaper La Stampa, entitled “Russian shadows behind the crisis”.

The article revealed a conversation between a Russian official and a Salvini adviser that would have taken place late in May, wherein the former asked if, given the Lega Nord’s position against the sending of arms to Ukraine by Italy, the party was contemplating the resignation of its representatives in government.

The issue unleashed a scandal in the country and it is expected that in the next few hours the matter will be debated in the Parliamentary Committee for the Security of the Republic, as announced by the senator for the Democratic Party, Ernesto Magorno, secretary of the body.

In the opinion of observers, a campaign on the alleged Russian interference and the alleged role of Salvini, serves political opponents to affect electoral support for their party, Lega Nord, which is part of a right-wing alliance favorite to win the September 25th elections.

The president of the Democratic Party, Enrique Letta, expressed for his part that “the reports on the ties between Salvini and Putin’s Russia made by the press are disturbing, the electoral campaign begins in the worst way.”

Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio, who leads the Together for the Future Party, fueled accusations of alleged Moscow meddling by saying that “we must be careful about Russian influences in this election campaign.”

Salvini pointed out during the interview that “international politics is independent of governments, we are proud allies of Western countries,” but clarified that “this does not mean that we do not want good relations with Putin.”

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