Ilaria Salis, a 39-year-old teacher, has been in a Hungarian jail for more than a year in a case that drew outrage in Italy in February when she was led into a court hearing with her feet and hands bound and a chain round her waist.

Candidacy could grant immunity to Ilaria Salis who was arrested in February 2023 after a counter-demonstration at a Neo-Nazi rally

The regional elections in Basilicata, which saw the expected victory of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s Fratelli d’Italia party, surprised the centrist Italia Viva and Azione parties, which together won more than 14% of the vote.

Hungary's prime minister has portrayed Europe as a continent teetering on the edge of armed conflict in a speech opening his party’s campaign for European Union elections.

Italy’s centre-left opposition Democratic Party (PD) has come under fire after its leader, Elly Schlein, announced her candidacy for June’s European elections despite having previously said she had no intention of taking up a seat in European Parliament.