On Sunday, as Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni held her International Conference on Development and Migration in Rome, which was attended by several world leaders, opposition politicians publicly voiced their disapproval of the government's migration policy at a counter-summit.

In particular, they took aim at Tunisian President Kais Saied's inclusion at Meloni's event, denouncing "the shameful agreements" reached between Tunisia and the European Union to fight irregular migration.

The EU and the Maghreb nation had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to this end, which will benefit Tunisia more than €100 million for its assistance in keeping migrants from European shores.

Strong works against Tunisian President

Angelo Bonelli, an opposition member of parliament for the Green Alliance and Left Party, said that Meloni's conference was "celebration of hypocrisy," where Saied, known for his autocratic leadership style and disregard for human rights, was the first foreign attendant to speak after Meloni and her ministers:

"How can we listen to Saied talk about fighting against human traffickers of migrants when the Tunisian government picks up migrants on the street and abandons them in the desert without water and food?"

Nicola Fratoianni, leader of the Italian Left, echoed these sentiments, referring to Saied as a "some North-African dictator filled with egoism."

Other politicians meanwhile criticized the overall direction of Italy's migration policy; Laura Boldrini, a member of parliament for the Democratic Party, denounced the government's "closed ports and naval blockade" policy, referring to the limited means left for NGOs to engage in sea rescue operations.

France's notable exclusion from the International Conference on Development and Migration was also highlighted, with the Five Star Party saying that "given the relevance of the role of Paris in Africa" this was "incomprehensible."