The anti-establishment Five Star
Movement (M5S) struggled to present a united front again on
Friday over plans to build a big new stadium complex for the AS
Roma soccer club in southern Rome.
The administration of M5S Mayor Virginia Raggi has expressed
reservations about parts of the original project, but insists it
wants the project to move forward in a scaled-down form.
Outspoken MP Roberta Lombardi wrote in a post on Facebook
that the city council resolution declaring the public utility of
the project should be annulled.
"This is Rome and I am not prepared to see it tormented to
satisfy the will of some entrepreneur," she wrote.
"I hope the city administration makes the right choice and
asks the proponent to present a new project that respects the
law and the capital," Lombardi added.
However, she was subsequently silenced by M5S leader Beppe
Grillo, who wrote on his blog that it was for the city executive
and councillors to decide and that "MPs should think about doing
their job".
Lombardi later responded to Grillo by saying her doubts on
the project were "the same as those voiced by Virginia on
Grillo's blog two days ago".
Deputy Lower House speaker and leading M5S exponent Luigi Di
Maio described the debate over the stadium as "surreal".
"Citizens, including Romans, do not understand why we are
talking about these things when outlying suburbs are in such a
state. AS Roma supporters also have problems making it to the
end of the month," he told Radio Anch'io.
"We have never been in favour of the initial project, but
negotiations are underway to see whether it is possible to
complete it while respecting our values," Di Maio added.
In 2014 AS Roma unveiled plans to build a new 52,000-capacity
stadium in the southern Tor di Valle area of the city.
The much-delayed project includes shops, bars and facilities
for conferences, music and entertainment, including a 500-person
stage in a Roma-themed restaurant and a big amphitheater.
Earlier this month Raggi's administration raised concerns
over road and hydraulic safety, the lack of parking, traffic and
public transport issues and shortcomings in the project
documentation.
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