Anti-establishment 5-Star Movement
(M5S) leader Beppe Grillo on Tuesday announced measures in line
with Rome Mayor Virginia Raggi's recently announced closure of
Roma camps, calling for "the closure of Roma camps, a census of
all the illegal areas and shanty towns.
"Those who say they have no income and go around in luxury
cars are out. Those who ask for money in the metro, with kids in
tow, are out. What's more, vigilance against purse snatchers on
the metro will be raised."
Meanwhile Raggi said the numbers of migrants in Rome should
be restricted.
The mayor asked the interior ministry for a moratorium on new
migrant arrivals in the Italian capital, given the "strong
migratory presence and the continual flow of foreign citizens".
Writing to Rome Prefect Paola Basilone, Raggi said "I find it
impossible, as well as risky, to hypothesise further reception
facilities, which would moreover have a significant impact...on
the city area".
In the letter, Raggi stresses the need to consider the
"high migrant pressure Rome is subjected to".
She said "for these reasons this administration, given the
high flows of unregistered migrants, hopes the assessments of
new facilities take into account the evident migrant pressure on
Roma Capitale and the possible devastating consequences in terms
of social costs as well as for the protection of the
beneficiaries themselves."
Democratic Party leader Matteo Renzi said Grillo's statements
about the Roma were "the classic statements to fool Italians."
He said "I demolished a Roma camp in Florence and I know what
it means".
He said "it takes determination, hard work."
Renzi said "Grillo has a problem right now: he is realising
that reality is more complicated than
his blog and politics is more difficult than an algorithm".
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