After the gun shooting affair: Italian politician excluded from his parliamentary group Problem with Boeing jets worsens after near misses

In the affair surrounding a gun shot during a New Year’s Eve celebration, a politician from the ultra-right ruling party of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has been temporarily excluded from the parliamentary group.

As several Italian media reported, MP Emanuele Pozzolo’s membership of the Fratelli d’Italia (Brothers of Italy) faction was suspended by the group’s leadership on Tuesday. The 38-year-old previously served for the Meloni party in the Chamber of Deputies, the larger of the two parliamentary chambers.

Injury at New Year’s Eve party

Pozzolo had attended a New Year’s Eve party where another guest was injured by a shot from a gun he owned. The incident has since caused great excitement in Italy. It remains unclear to this day how the shot was fired. According to initial findings, Pozzolo allegedly showed his weapon – a mini revolver – to the guests. The shot was then fired, wounding the other partygoer in the leg.

The wounded man told La Stampa newspaper that Pozzolo had been holding the gun in his hand shortly before the shot. The revolver did not fall to the ground, which would have allowed a shot to be fired. The Public Prosecution Service is now investigating Pozzolo for serious physical injuries. The deputy continues to deny shooting.

The scandal has also put Meloni under pressure. The opposition demanded consequences for Pozzolo. The head of government had already announced his intention to suspend the MP. She spoke of irresponsible behavior. Meloni has been at the head of a coalition of three right-wing parties for over a year. The alliance has a clear majority in parliament. (sda/dpa)