Crans-Montana, Swiss President: 'Different procedures in Switzerland, politics do not interfere'
Parmelin responds to Tajani, who recalled the Italian ambassador to Rome
Italy's strong gesture after the release with a collection of 200,000 francs of Jacques Moretti, owner of the Constellation and under investigation for the New Year's Eve massacre in Crans-Montana, where 40 people died and 116 were injured: the Farnesina is about to call the Italian ambassador to Switzerland Gian Lorenzo Cornado back to Rome to define further action to be taken. A position shared by the families of the victims.
The families of the victims: "The Italian government did well"
'We are pleased with the strong intervention of the Italian government,' says Umberto Marcucci - father of Manfredi, one of the injured hospitalised in Niguarda - 'There is a sense of frustration about the decision,' Marcucci explained. On the one hand, "the Confederation seems to be sending a message that goes in one direction with the President listening to the victims' families, and on the other, there is no perceived will to rehabilitate itself after this tragedy," he continued, "as if it wanted to sweep the dust under the carpet." The man's hope is that an investigation will be carried out at all levels, ascertaining "the responsibilities also of the officials of the Crans-Montana municipality. From Switzerland, according to Marcucci, there were 'many signals that were not positive, such as the bail figure' for Moretti: 200,000 francs. "If you want to send a message and keep him in jail, you have to set a very high bail so that no one can come and pay it," he added. Now, however, 'there is no going back', because Moretti is free. A situation that hurts not only the Italian victims and their families. 'There are many Swiss families who are being harmed by the authorities in their country,' concluded the father of the burnt boy.
The relatives of Chiara Costanzo - who died in the Crans-Montana fire - are also 'appalled' after Moretti's release from prison. 'Such a thing is inconceivable. This measure is absurd, it is out of all human logic,' Andrea Costanzo told Tg 3, adding that he has 'a lot of confidence that the authorities will exert adequate pressure'. Pietro Costanzo, Chiara's uncle, launches an appeal 'to the Italian Winter Sports Federation: since next week there are ski races in Crans-Montana, do not present the athletes'. 'It would be a nice form of protest, of indignation,' he said interviewed by TgR Lombardia, sceptical about the possibility of obtaining justice: 'as long as the trial venue is in Valais, I have serious doubts'.
President of the Swiss Confederation: 'Politics must not interfere'
President of the Swiss Confederation Guy Parmelin - who met the relatives of the Italian victims of the fire in Crans-Montana - responded to Tajani and Meloni's decision in a video published on the website of the Blick newspaper as follows: 'We can understand the indignation, but in Switzerland we have different procedures from those in Italy and the two legal systems should not be superimposed'. This is why 'we must respect the separation of powers and politics must not interfere', Parmelin continued, emphasising that 'justice must carry out its investigations transparently and pay for any mistakes. The same applies politically'.
Palazzo Chigi: "Viva indignation"
After Moretti's release from prison, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani instructed the diplomat to immediately contact the Attorney General of the Canton of Valais, Béatrice Pilloud, to represent the "deep indignation" of the government and of Italy at the decision of the Sion Court of Coercive Measures to release Moretti: a choice made "despite the extreme seriousness of the crime of which he is suspected, the heavy responsibilities hanging over him, the persistent danger of flight and the obvious risk of further pollution of the evidence against him". "A decision - reads a note from Palazzo Chigi - that represents a serious offence and a further wound inflicted on the families of the victims of the Crans-Montana tragedy and those still in hospital. The whole of Italy is clamouring for truth and justice, and is calling for respectful measures to be taken in the wake of this disaster, taking full account of the suffering and expectations of the families'.
