I know for a fact that the children are worse off after five months of confinement than they were five months ago. Of course, this family has a different educational model than usual: is this a crime? No. Is there violence, drugs, abuse? No. So? The children who live in a shithole tonight, with parents who steal, aren't being taken away, if all goes well, so what?

This is what Matteo Salvini said to journalists after meeting Nathan and Catherine, the parents of the "family in the woods" in Palmoli .

The minister visited the couple's farmhouse: "They've taken care of everything: the house, the pediatrician, the vaccinations, the educational issues, and the teacher is ready. I don't understand what we should expect," Salvini said, noting that "here there are solar panels, the forest, the river, the plants, the donkey."

"I'm sure there was no bad faith," the minister begins, speaking of the Juvenile Court's decision. "Perhaps someone misjudged the situation . But after five months, are the children better or worse off? There's no need for a psychiatric assessment. Every additional day of separation is a day wasted, a day of needless and unnecessary suffering ."

About the parents: "They're well-balanced, they speak English, Italian, German, Spanish, and Japanese, they've had work experience all over the world, they chose Italy to raise their children in peace, and yet Italy responds like this? I'm ashamed!"

On social life: "They had more here without TV, telephone, or social media than half the children living in Rome and Milan." Salvini held the fresh eggs he'd just received as gifts from his spouse: "Here, the children eat good food. And they're more culturally advanced than many of their peers, who may know how to do 7 times 8, but can't tell an animal from a plant."

(Unioneonline/L)

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