Deputy Premier and Transport and
Infrastructure Minister Matteo Salvini on Thursday called for
stiffer penalties, including jail, for protesters engaged in
acts of civil disobedience to highlight the need to address the
climate crisis.
The League leader made the call after members of the Ultima
Generazione (UG - Last Generation) group blocked traffic in both
directions on the Turin-Milan motorway on Thursday, causing
major disruption.
"Eco-imbeciles!!!" Salvini said via X.
"Gluing yourself to the asphalt and stopping one of Italy's most
important motorways, creating problems for workers and students
and damaging the environment and trade, is a criminal act.
"For this reason, the League is committed to pursuing its
proposal to increase the penalties - with heavy fines, jail and
arrest when caught in the act - to the cretins who block roads
to the detriment of thousands of innocent citizens. Enough!".
The UG protestors held up a banner calling for a "Reparation
Fund" of 20 billion euros to be set up to help people suffering
the effects of the climate crisis, such as the communities
devastated by the deadly floods that hit Emilia Romagna in May.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
