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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
National
Angela Giuffrida in Rome

Italy’s rape law stalls as Matteo Salvini claims it could be used for ‘vendettas’

The Italian prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, flanked by the foreign minister, Antonio Tajani (left), and the deputy prime minister, Matteo Salvini, in parliament.
The Italian PM, Giorgia Meloni, flanked by the foreign minister, Antonio Tajani (left), and the deputy prime minister, Matteo Salvini, in parliament. Photograph: Matteo Minnella/Reuters

Italy’s parliament has delayed a debate over a landmark law that would define sex without consent as rape amid a rift within the ruling coalition.

The measure, the result of a rare pact between the far-right prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, and her main political opponent, the centre-left leader, Elly Schlein, passed in the lower house last week and had been expected to get final approval in the senate this week.

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