New chapter in the confrontation between the majority and the opposition over post-flood reconstruction in Emilia-Romagna. This time it is the Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, who takes pen and paper to write a long letter to Governor Stefano Bonaccini, after the President of the Democratic Party complained on several occasions about the lack of funds in the area. And Bonaccini responds briefly, confirming his position and asking for a meeting. After the flood, “I didn’t have the opportunity to read any of your words in support” of the government’s actions, “quite the contrary. I have read that Your Excellency, as President of the Region and Sub-Commissioner for Reconstruction, has repeatedly stated that “not a single euro would have reached the territory to date”, writes the Prime Minister. Which lists the Government’s actions and allocated funds, explaining, however, that “we must not give in to the rush and frenzy that seems to respond to someone’s desire to have some visibility, fueling useless polemics”.
“In the three months since the events that hit Emilia Romagna – writes the Prime Minister – the government has taken steps to issue two decrees”, which were later converted into law, mobilizing total resources of 4.5 billion. Meloni details and specifies, among other things, that more than half of the 20,000 applications for support to individuals “have already been processed”, disbursing more than 30 million euros to families and individuals in the area; all requests submitted to Ismea for access to credit were fully investigated and processed, releasing around 15 million euros in favor of applicants; more than 14,000 requests for subsidies to self-employed workers were accepted and paid for around 18 million euros», in addition to the sums for the single buffer, the contribution for families forced to leave their homes, 100 million in favor of small and medium companies. “And I could go on for a long time,” says the prime minister. “Enormous resources have also been allocated for public reconstruction. Commissioner Figliuolo himself has repeatedly reiterated, responding to the requests of mayors, that the more than 2,500 urgent interventions heard and involving an expense of 413 million euros will be fully replaced by the Government”. «I reiterate – concludes the Prime Minister – that the Government’s perspective is to fully repair the damage suffered also by individuals. However, it is necessary to acquire accurate and detailed estimates” that “have not yet been sent to the Commissioner’s structure by the Region”.
An all-out attack to which Bonaccini’s response was not long in coming. The governor reiterates the request for a meeting with Meloni and confirms “that in addition to what was activated by me together with the National Department of Civil Protection, nothing has arrived in terms of compensation to the families and companies affected: of course, the two decrees defined a series of measures that, however, must be asked of citizens, do not seem to be working at the moment”, neither for families nor for companies. The governor reiterates “what mayors, class associations and union organizations say: the vast majority of companies to date have not only not received a euro in compensation, but also do not even know how to make the necessary assessments.” Bonaccini, in his response, recalls how “the resources allocated to private reconstruction are scarce, indeed, almost insignificant” And as for the “public reconstruction, of the figure mentioned by President Meloni – the more than 400 million euros for the extremely urgent interventions carried out – nothing has reached the Municipalities’ coffers, which are still exposed, as well as the companies that made these works and are not paid”.
Source: IL Tempo
Emma Fitzgerald is an accomplished political journalist and author at The Nation View. With a background in political science and international relations, she has a deep understanding of the political landscape and the forces that shape it.
