League leader Matteo Salvini said
"hands off the police" Sunday amid a row over allegedly heavy
handed policing of a pro-Palestinian demonstration in Pisa and
after President Sergio Mattarella stepped into the case to chide
the alleged over use of truncheons.
'It is right to make analyses to see if (the police) did what
they had to do," said Salvini, "or if someone went too far, but
they are women and men, not robots, and they should not be drawn
into a political row."
The centre-left opposition has condemned the baton charges to
beta back protesters from reaching the US consulate int the
Tuscan city after video footage emerged showing some officers
repeatedly hitting pro-Palestinian demonstrators on the head.
Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi told Sunday's edition of the
Corriere della Sera newspaper that the rules on the management
of public order have not changed, and he will not shy away from
an assessment of what happened.
And to those who ask him to report to parliament, he said he is
"available, but no to discussions to discredit the government or
the police force."
Mattarella said Saturday that the authoritativeness of the State
cannot be measures by batons, after speaking with Piantedosi on
the events in Pisa.
"The President of the Republic reminded the Interior Minister,
finding his agreement (on the subject), that the
authoritativeness of the police forces cannot be measured by
batons but by the capacity to ensure security while
safeguarding, at the same time, the freedom to publicly express
opinions," said a note from the presidential Quirinale Palace.
"Truncheons express failure with young people".
Asked to respond on Sunday, Salvini, who is also deputy premier
and transport minister, said:
"The president's words can be read but not commented on".
Then, pressed, he added: "Of course it is always better that
there are no clashes.
"Policemen and Carabinieri are daily victims of physical and
verbal violence.
"Even in that square. If my son went and shouted 'cop asshole'
then he would have to deal with me.
Salvini said "anyone who puts his hands on a policeman or a
Carabiniere is a delinquent"..
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