Italian mayor accused of fascism as gatherings of three or more people are banned

Berlusconi 'militarizes' Italy's cities with deployment of 3,000 soldiers
Belfast Telegraph
Aug. 17, 2008

A mayor has banned group gatherings in the nothern Italian town of Novara.

Massimo Giordano, a member of the anti-immigration Northern League, has been compared by the Left with the Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini for banning "gatherings of more than two people" in public places at night.

Those who ignore the ban will face a fine of 500 euros (£400).

Giordano maintains that the citizens of Novara had asked for the measure to "reinforce decorum and prevent damage to public parks and gardens".

However, opposition councillors have responded with fury and said it was "reminiscent of Benito Mussolini's edict of the 1920's which banned groups of five or more people".

Giordano also banned drinking in public places after 6pm and closed an immigrant cultural centre.

Opposition councillor Sara Paladini said: "There is no emergency situation here in Novara and there is no need for fascist edict. There are other better ways to tackle the city's problems."

Yesterday, the centre-right government of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi ordered troops to begin patrolling Italy's streets in an effort to combat crime. The move was dismissed by critics as a publicity stunt.

The deployment, which will soon rise to 3,000 troops, is the most visible initiative in a law and order campaign by Mr Berlusconi – who pledged to make Italy safer if he was re-elected.

Soldiers were sent to Rome, Milan, Turin and Palermo, where they patrolled the streets alongside the police and helped protect "sensitive" sites ranging from Milan's Duomo cathedral to embassies and consulates.

They will also guard detention centres processing illegal immigrants, who have been blamed for much of Italy's crime. "I'm happy. I hope this will solve things and eliminate part of the crime," said Vittoria Rosati, a resident of Rome, as troops in camouflage fatigues stood guard at a nearby metro stop.

Visitors to the Eternal City will not see them at iconic monuments such the Colosseum or the Pantheon, after Rome's mayor complained that gun-toting soldiers could scare off tourists.

Some critics said the deployment would do little to reduce crime, while others objected to the use of soldiers for policing. Achille Serra, a former Prefect of Rome with a background in law enforcement, said the deployment was "useless".

He is now a centre-left opposition senator. "I'm wondering what a soldier will do to address a burglary or mugging," he told one newspaper.












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