Safe roads: the League criticises, but Crosetto says: ‘It mustn’t be just a cosmetic measure’

Tensions remain high within the centre-right over the issue of security, with the Lega insisting on a strengthening of Safe Streets (the operation which, since 2008, has deployed the Armed Forces for preventative and security patrols), whilst Defence Minister Guido Crosetto has responded by arguing that if ‘the military are to be deployed immediately’ – not ‘for purely “cosmetic” reasons’ – it is necessary to speed up ‘the defence reorganisation plan’. The issue has been causing divisions within the majority (and also within FdI) ever since Crosetto emphasised last November the need to ‘increase police numbers to allow the military to return to their original role’.

The issue has been raised once again by Lega Senator Giorgio Maria Bergesio. “The expansion of the ‘Strade sicure’ programme cannot wait any longer: we need to increase the contingent to 10,000 military personnel in our cities. We have called for this in a Lega resolution (pending since April, ed.), which we hope will be scheduled for debate immediately. The presence of our soldiers has an immediate and crucial deterrent effect against thugs, terrorists, drug dealers and criminals who occupy town squares, stations and suburbs. Ninety per cent of citizens feel safer where there is a military presence: this proves that this is the right approach. It is unacceptable that over 60 provincial capitals remain unprotected, without a permanent military presence. We call on the entire majority to support this proposal: it can be implemented in a matter of weeks; we cannot afford to waste any more time. The safety of Italians comes first.’

The Defence Committee has issued a clarification from the spokesperson for its Chairman, Antonino Minardo (Forza Italia): ‘Mr Zoffili’s resolution was already scheduled to be among the first items to be dealt with when the Defence Committee resumed its work after the summer recess. It was not included on the agenda for this week’s sittings precisely because of a request to that effect made by Mr Zoffili himself to the Committee’s secretariat. We therefore take note of the new request made publicly today by the Lega group leader and, as there has never been any problem nor any intention to postpone consideration of the motion, the resolution will be included on the agenda for the Committee’s proceedings next Thursday’.

But Minister Crosetto has spoken out on the matter to clarify: ‘I have read in various newspapers today about a row within the ruling coalition over a possible expansion of Operation Safe Roads, to which I would be opposed. Probably none of those writing or saying these things remember who launched Operation Safe Roads, nor the effort and difficulties involved in its creation. I, on the other hand, remember it all very well because we brought it into being, against everyone and everything: Minister La Russa, Cossiga (Jr) and I as undersecretaries. Against everyone and everything, I repeat. In fact, it did not come about as we would have liked, but with a thousand constraints,’ adds Crosetto. ‘Constraints that continue to exist and make it difficult for the military to fulfil that role to the best of their ability. Due to bureaucratic and legislative red tape, logistical and organisational problems, and issues with training and equipment. That is why I took the liberty of saying that it would have been more productive to recruit 10,000 more Carabinieri, who are part of the Ministry of Defence but constitute a police force with all the powers of the police.’

The Defence Minister asks: ‘Do we want to deploy the military straight away? Just as long as it’s not purely for “cosmetic” reasons, just to show off a bit of camouflage on the streets. If, on the other hand, the intention is for them to be operational and, as some are calling for, to have special forces deployed in high-risk areas of cities alongside the police, then we simply need to make this legally possible. So rather than a resolution, we should speed up the Defence reorganisation bill and include the provisions deemed necessary to combat an increasingly heinous form of crime.”