Request for the defence of parliamentary immunity of Luigi de Magistris

The European Parliament adopted a decision in which it decides not to defend the parliamentary immunity of Luigi de Magistris (ALDE, IT).

The request for immunity of Luigi de Magistris relates to proceedings before an Italian court.

To recall, the request by Luigi de Magistris relates to a writ of summons filed against him before the Court of Cosenza on behalf of Dr Vincenza Bruno Bossio in connection with statements made by Luigi de Magistris in his book Assalto al PM, storia di un cattivo magistrato (‘Attack on the public prosecutor – the story of a bad magistrate’), which was published in April 2010. According to the writ of summons, statements made in that book constitute libel, resulting in a claim for damages.

The statements made by Luigi de Magistris in this case relate to allegations of improper conduct of third parties in connection with criminal investigations which he was conducting before he became a Member of the European Parliament. The statements therefore appear to be rather far removed from the duties of a Member of the European Parliament and hardly capable, therefore, of presenting a direct link with a general interest of concern to citizens, and even if such a link could be demonstrated, it would not be obvious.

Against this background, the European Parliament decides not to defend the parliamentary immunity of Luigi De Magistris.