Overview
- La Russa said Francesco Saverio Garofani should step aside as secretary of the Consiglio supremo di Difesa, citing the sensitivity of the national defense role.
- La Russa stressed that President Sergio Mattarella bears no responsibility for his adviser’s private remarks and argued a right‑wing figure would have faced harsher treatment.
- Hours later, La Russa clarified he had not formally requested Garofani’s resignation and said the case should remain closed.
- Meloni previously declared the matter resolved after speaking with Mattarella, following a Quirinale backlash to a note from FdI’s Galeazzo Bignami about the La Verità report.
- Garofani acknowledged he made the comments reported by La Verità during a private dinner, and there has been no announcement of his resignation or removal.