Giorgia Meloni: «Every reticence is justification, refusal is unanimous». The Premier presses the opposition after the riots in Milan, Turin and Bologna: open clash between the government and the left over condemnations of the violence.
It would have been enough to distance ourselves from the devastation of Milan, Bologna And Turin. Someone from the left who said: guys, you exaggerated. But no. Three days ago, the Prime Minister, Giorgia Melonihe said at the end of the European Council: «It’s always nice when people want to have their say. What is different is violence, the paper bomb, attacking the police. We must be very clear on this. And we also have to agree.”
Everyone. Right, left and center. “I say this because”, the Prime Minister continued, “I am looking at some comments from the leaders of the opposition forces on the protests, who clearly take it out on the government, and are unable to say a word of condemnation of the violence”. The appeal, judging by the reactions of the opposition in the face of yesterday’s devastation, fell on deaf ears.
The silence of the opposition and the clash in the squares
Here you are Angelo Bonelli move from the stones of the Adige to the torn cobblestones of the cities: «The message of the squares is clear, there is no time to waste and I also say this to Elly Schlein And Giuseppe Conte. It is an extraordinary mobilization while the social crisis explodes and the government spends 27 billion euros on weapons. This square sends a signal to everyone.” And the sign, if one knows how to read it, is that the violent ones have them at home. And that the riots, judging by the videos circulating online, are led more by the Maranza people than by Italians in difficulty. Another lap, another race. For Alfredo D’Attorreresponsible for University and Research in the national secretariat of PD«the distance of the Meloni government from the real country is becoming increasingly impressive.
The minister Bernini she has not yet deigned to respond to the students who ask her for a meeting, bringing her back to the concreteness of the real figures, which testify to the failure in the management of resources Pnrr for university accommodation. President Meloni shows no respect for the thousands and thousands of students who peacefully took to the streets to protest, exploiting the behavior of individual and very small fringes of demonstrators. The government takes no responsibility, as if it hadn’t been governing for four years and the fault lay with those who protest.”
The half-sentences and the new recall of the prime minister
And we come to the left chapter Silvia Salis she manages to be a little more courageous and say: “the demands of young people are legitimate but violence is to be condemned”. Same music, sung (this time the New Year’s concert has nothing to do with it and Salis can rest assured) also by the mayor of Milan, Beppe Salawho stated that “the reasons for the protest are understandable and young people must be listened to”, however “the violence against the police is unjustifiable”. Well, something has been said. Timidly, without being too bothered by the fact that, as we know, destroying a city requires concentration.
Obviously, faced with the first images of devastation, Meloni spoke again, repeating what she expressed after the European Council: «Demonstrating is a right. Setting our cities on fire is not. I renew my request to the opposition: let them not be ambiguous about this. May they unambiguously condemn this violence and make a clear appeal that every mobilization be peaceful. Faced with such scenes, the refusal must be unanimous. Every reticence becomes justification. Silence is not acceptable.” Under these words, published on social media, the prime minister showed a video of the riots in Cathedral square in Milan, where we see “thugs who exploit the demonstrations to sow chaos, attack those who guarantee security and hold entire cities hostage”.
The compact center-right in defense of security
Because this is precisely what happened, and risks happening again with ever greater frequency, in Milan, Bologna and Turin. It is no coincidence that the deputy prime minister and leader of Forza Italia, Antonio Tajanisaid that «the right and freedom to demonstrate are sacrosanct but no less the right of all citizens to safety and that of the police not to be attacked. Violence and vandalism are totally unacceptable and must be condemned.”
The Northern League deputy prime minister, Matteo Salviniinstead commented: «Demonstrating peacefully is a right, throwing stones, bottles and firecrackers at the police is for criminals and delinquents, not for students. And in Bologna there are even those who try to occupy the station platforms and then protest because the trains don’t pass.” The Minister of Education Giuseppe Valditarawho on Friday had denounced the «political hooliganism» of the troublemakers, yesterday instead said: «Episodes of violence, acts of vandalism, insults and threats towards the Government and the police. Unacceptable gestures.” The deputy group leader of Brothers of Italy to the House, Augusta Montaruliexpressed maximum solidarity with the police and, after condemning the violence of the demonstrators, reiterated: «The “buts” of some exponents of the left are not admissible. No veil of justification for the unjustifiable.” It’s hard to blame her.
