The Italian president advises Musk to refrain from interfering in the internal politics of Italy

President Sergio Mattarella addressed Elon Musk on Wednesday, urging him not to meddle in Italian matters following the U.S. billionaire’s remarks suggesting that judges in Rome who are obstructing a government anti-immigration initiative should be dismissed.

The unexpected statement from the Italian head of state emerged amid escalating tensions between the ruling coalition and the judiciary, drawing the interest of Musk, a friend of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

“These judges need to go,” Musk expressed on X on Tuesday, in reference to a panel of Rome magistrates who had scrutinized the legality of a government initiative to detain asylum-seekers in Albania — a measure intended to deter irregular immigration.

The decision by the magistrates resulted in a small group of migrants recently transported to Albania being redirected to Italy, raising questions about Meloni’s primary initiative to address irregular arrivals.

Musk’s remark was prominently featured on the front pages of Italian newspapers on Wednesday, arriving just hours after U.S. President-elect Donald Trump appointed him to a key position focused on enhancing government efficiency in the United States.

“Italy is a remarkable democratic nation and … knows how to look after itself,” stated Mattarella, who regularly ranks as the most esteemed leader in Italy according to opinion polls.

“Anyone, especially if he is set to take on a significant government role in a friendly and allied nation, must honor its sovereignty and cannot take it upon himself to issue instructions.”

There was no immediate response from Musk on X, but as soon as Mattarella’s statement was released, he shifted back to the migration topic, stating: “Do the people of Italy live in a democracy or does an unelected autocracy make the decisions?”

Although Meloni has remained silent regarding his social media posts, Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini has expressed his approval of the intervention. “@elonmusk is correct,” he stated on X on Tuesday.

EU COURT IN THE SPOTLIGHT

The controversy centers on an October ruling by the EU’s Court of Justice (ECJ), which stated that no nation of origin could be deemed safe if even a portion of it was deemed dangerous. This stance challenges Italy’s policy of attempting to repatriate visa-less migrants to their home countries.

The ECJ ruling, which originated from a Czech case, applies to the entire European Union and coincided with Meloni’s government constructing detention centers in Albania designed to handle migrants intercepted at sea while attempting to reach Italy.

The centers aim to expedite repatriations; however, the Rome court stated that this should not occur until the ECJ offers additional clarification.

Consequently, the two small groups of migrants relocated to Albania over the past three weeks have been swiftly transferred to Italy, placing the scheme in a state of legal uncertainty.

Italy’s supreme court is set to examine the legality of the Rome court’s decision in early December, though legal experts suggest that the ultimate authority will likely rest with the ECJ.

An official from the ECJ stated on Wednesday that the Luxembourg-based court may require several months to determine the legality of Italy’s ability to repatriate migrants to countries it considers safe, including Egypt, Tunisia, and Bangladesh.

Recent official data from the ECJ indicates that the average time to reach a ruling is 16.1 months, though this duration could be reduced if the court opts to expedite the proceedings.

An unnamed official indicated that this was “very feasible” due to the significant attention the affair has garnered; however, it would still require weeks for an opinion to be issued.