ROME—The Lower House Deputy Speaker, Luigi Di Maio, a senior figure of the maverick 5 Star Movement (M5S), has slammed the government’s stance towards the migrant crisis in Italy, attacking specifically the Interior Minister Marco Minniti and the measures implemented by the ruling Democratic Party.

 “Minniti does not know what country he is in, there’s a serious emergency. They must help us and those who speak to the contrary are not in this world- him, the PD and the government,” said Di Maio, commenting after Rome’s mayor Virginia Raggi previously spoke out this week about the battles faced in the capital.

 Raggi is soon to be received by Minniti at the Interior Ministry headquarters at the Viminale, in order to discuss the Mayor’s requests to limit the presence of migrants in the capital. Previously, the Ministry had agreed to take in as many migrants as could possibly be distributed in as many towns as possible, but the proposals have angered leading M5S party members, including Raggi.

 “Roma is doing its part and will continue to do so like all other cities, both big and small,” read Raggi’s response in a note released Wednesday.

 “In regards to the numbers here, we have just said what Roman citizens see every day. We are in the midst of an imposing migratory surge. We Romans are doing our part but it is not possible to imagine new arrivals or even the construction of new structures on our territory. Rome remains an open city, but there are precise rules,” she added.

 Italy has been one of the countries most affected by the worsening migrant crisis and despite fast-stream measures implemented by the government earlier this year to quicken up the processing of asylum requests and deporting those who are rejected, the country’s infrastructure is being stretched to breaking point after accepting a record number of migrants in the first quarter of 2017.

 However, Lega Nord leader Matteo Salvini, was quick to criticise the M5S response, citing the need for actions rather than words.

 “What interests me is that facts follow words. Raggi says enough immigrants, Grillo says enough Rom camps, let’s see if their words are followed by facts, here this is not about being a Lega Nord supporter or a Grillo supporter, it’s about seeking a bit of order and tranquillity for the citizens,” said Salvini, speaking on Radio Cusano Campus.

jj