(ANSA) - Rome, February 5 - Deputy Premier, Interior Minister and League leader Matteo Salvini on Tuesday said Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was an outlaw and fresh elections should be held as soon as possible after last July's allegedly rigged ballot, as opposition leader Juan Guaidò is demanding.
"Maduro is an outlaw: he starves, imprisons and tortures his people," said Salvini in a statement.
"I hope for free and democratic elections as soon as possible. I'm close to the millions of Italians, and descendants of Italians, who live, resist and suffer in Venezuela".
Salvini's government partner, the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S), says Italy should not meddle in Venezuelan politics.
Maduro an outlaw, elections now says Salvini
Starves, jails and tortures his people says deputy PM