ROME — Italy’s Court of Auditors on Wednesday rejected a key government project, refusing to sign off on plans to build a 13.5 billion euro massive bridge connecting Sicily to the mainland, dealing a blow to the right-wing government led by Premier Giorgia Meloni.

The court — which has a dual role of financial control and jurisdiction in public accounting — issued its decision in a brief statement on Wednesday evening, adding that it would publish its motivations within 30 days.

Meloni immediately blasted the ruling, calling it “an intolerable intrusion” by magistrates and promising the government would go ahead with the project

Transport Minister and Deputy Premier Matteo Salvini — the main sponsor of the Strait of Messina Bridge project — denounced the ruling as “a political decision,

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