Environment Minister Gilberto
Pichetto Fratin caused controversy on Monday by suggesting
mayors should be penalized for illegal building work after the
deadly Ischia landslide shone the spotlight on the problem.
"Putting the mayor and all those who allow it in prison would
suffice (to stop the illegal building in Italy)," the minister
told Rtl 102.5 radio.
"The mayors should not let them built (illegal property)".
The comment caused an instant backlash, with Bari Mayor Antonio
Decaro, the president of the Italian association of local
authorities (ANCI), leading the criticism.
"Minister Pichetto Fratin's comment on the Ischia tragedy, while
the search continues for the missing and the victims are still
being counted, is an act of unacceptable vulgarity and it
denotes serious ignorance of the subject," Decaro said.
"We are sure that it is not the position of the government on
the long-standing and dramatic issue of hydrogeological
instability".
Pichetto's cabinet colleague, Civil Protection and Sea Policies
Minister Nello Musumeci, distanced himself from the comment.
"It is necessary to make sure the State is constantly at the
side of the mayors because criminal organizations are frequently
behind illegal construction," said former Sicily Governor
Musumeci, adding that Pichetto's words may have been
misinterpreted.
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