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Italy's President Sergio Mattarella issued a stern response to Elon Musk on Wednesday after the tech mogul suggested that Italians might be living under an "unelected autocracy." Musk made the comments following an Italian court's decision to block Rome's plan to move migrant detention and processing to Albania. He expressed his disapproval on X, questioning Italy's governance and implying a lack of democratic process.

Musk's objection came after a court in Rome decided against detaining seven migrants in Albania, instead referring the issue to the European Court of Justice. The billionaire posted on X, suggesting that the Italian judges in question "need to go."

In a robust defense of the Italian judiciary, President Mattarella, who presides over the body governing Italy's courts, emphasized the nation's democratic values and sovereignty. "Italy is a great democratic country, and knows how to take care of itself while respecting its Constitution," Mattarella stated. He also advised Musk to respect Italy's sovereignty, particularly given Musk’s impending role in the newly formed U.S. government efficiency agency.

Musk’s remarks found some agreement within the current Italian government, echoing previous criticisms by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's administration against the judiciary. However, the comments also sparked outrage from opposition leaders who accused Musk of foreign interference and suggested that his statements could be harmful to democracy. Opposition politician Peppe De Cristofaro labeled Musk's words as "dangerous for democracy" and intended to intimidate judges, speculating that Musk might be acting to destabilize Europe on behalf of soon-to-be U.S. President Donald Trump.

With Meloni maintaining a friendly rapport with Musk, his controversial statements might become a considerable challenge for her administration, adding to the ongoing debate over Italy's judicial independence and governance.