The Rome prosecutor investigates the Pro-Europe event of March 15, after a complaint by Gasparri who disputes the use of public funds
The Rome Prosecutor’s Office opened an investigation into the event in support of Europe, held in the capital on 15 March. The file, currently without suspects or hypothesis of crime, was born from a complaint presented by the President of the Senators of Forza Italia, Maurizio Gasparri.
In the complaint, Gasparri disputes the use of public funds to finance the event, calling him “illegitimate and harmful of the public interest” since, in his opinion, he would have an evident party political orientation. In addition to the criminal investigation, the Court of Auditors is also investigating the matter.
The mayor of Rome, Roberto Gualtieri, in recent days has defended the choice to economically support the event, proudly declaring his commitment to Europe and regretting the criticisms received.
The facts
The demonstration of March 15 called by the journalist Michele Serra continues to make people discuss. Not so much for the divisions that emerged within the participants. Between Ukrainian banners, Peace Flags and the Sempressa “Bella Ciao”, a doubt remains: but why did they take to the streets? Then there is a fact, in all this matter, which is a granite certainty: The meeting of the medium reflective class was paid by the Romans.
It is now known that the event was financed by the Municipality of the capital. From safety to toilets, from the media stand to audio and video systems: the initiative of the Corsivista di Repubblica took place on the shoulders of the citizens. Paraphrasing the iconic Totò would be wondered: how long is the damage? At first there was talk of 270 thousand euros of expenses. Later, thanks to a scoop of the newspaper The truthit was discovered that the unbutted sum reached 350 thousand euros. How do you explain? The mayor of the Democratic Party Roberto Gualtieri continues to justify himself. For the first citizen it would have been a public event, of an institutional nature. Denying that the guests on stage have received any kind of reimbursement. Of course, seeing the images of Piazza del Popolo and the speeches of progressive intelligence arises.
The square for Europe was everything except impartial. Moreover, the Republic who until proven otherwise remains a private and non -public entity. And the oppositions went to this point. First of all, the councilor of the League Fabrizio Santori, who presented a complaint to the Court of Auditors. The exponent of the Carroccio, group leader in the Capitol, said he was convinced of his work: “I express full satisfaction for the start of the investigation by the Court of Auditors on the public funding of the event of 15 March,” he wrote in a note. Adding how “it is right to shed light on an event organized and paid by Roma Capitale which has proved to be anything but institutional”. According to Santori, in fact, “official resolutions of the junta or of the Capitoline assembly that qualify the initiative as institutional”.
A further step forward was taken by Maurizio Gasparri. For days the forzist senator has returned to the story, reiterating on several occasions that it was urgent to clarify the “350 thousand euros taken from the municipal coffers to finance an event that saw Dwarfs, dancers and comedians who do not make people go down to Piazza Nani,. Now Gasparri has presented a complaint to the Rome prosecutor’s office. An in -depth analysis that has not yet investigated and hypothesis of crime. But the content leaves no room for doubt. What does not come back is lapalissian. How is it possible, questioning the exponent of Forza Italia, that such an event was organized through the Zetema company? An entity of which the Municipality of Rome is 100% shareholder and whose social reason should concern the enhancement of cultural assets and activities such as museums, libraries and exhibitions? For Gasparri the fact that the Capitoline administration has incurred the expenses by resorting to the taxes of the Romans is to be considered “illegitimate and harmful of the public interest”. Protests also came from Fratelli d’Italia, who spoke of “capital shame”. Meanwhile, the newspaper The truth It reveals that the actor Claudio Bisio would receive a refund expenses for participation.
In the meantime, the journalist Michele Serra remains imperturbable on his hammock and unloads responsibility for the municipality. We will see what happens.
