Premier Giorgia Meloni on Wednesday
slammed the smear campaign to which the forces of law and order
are allegedly subject in Italy, insisting it is "unfair".
"I would like to recall here that in 97% of the demonstrations
that have taken place in recent months there have been no
policing issues," Meloni told police union representatives
during a meeting at Palazzo Chigi called after heavy-handed
policing during a pro-Palestinian protest in Pisa last month.
"There have been problems in only 3% of cases, in demonstration
of the excellent management of public order and your ability to
protect sensitive sites," she added.
"These are data that it is right to reiterate and underscore,
because I consider the systematic campaign of denigration to
which you have been subjected to to be unfair," said Meloni.
In Pisa clashes between riot police and demonstrators during a
protest that had not been properly notified left five people,
including two minors, needing emergency medical treatment.
Images of some police in the Tuscan city repeatedly hitting
students over the head shocked many Italians and elicited a rare
rebuke from President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella, who
said "truncheons fail young people".
"We felt it was important to convene this meeting, also in light
of what has happened recently. As you know, the increase in
street demonstrations, especially after the escalation of the
conflict in the Middle East, has resulted in a greater
commitment for all of you, in terms of both quality and
quantity," continued Meloni.
"There have been more than 1,000 street protests since October
7. Italy, unlike other nations, has not banned demonstrations in
favour of Palestine, because for us it is fundamental to
guarantee the full right to express any political position," she
added.
However, Meloni said the right to demonstrate "must be balanced
with respect for the rules that regulate it" and with the
"necessary protection of sensitive sites targeted by the
demonstrators".
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