«Criticism from the League? Someone confuses the roles. I have to ask myself the problem»- Corriere.it

«One cannot think of emptying the sea with a bucket…». Luca Zaia begins like this, without sending them to say, he Northern League, not even in the center-right government. The Veneto governor’s proposal for “widespread reception”, developed with the mayor of Treviso and regional president Anci Mario Conte, who is himself a Northern League member, was well received by Confindustria Est and Confapi. But it is not liked by some parliamentarians of his own party, starting with the regional secretary of the League Alberto Stefani.

President, didn’t this surprise you? Criticism from his own party…

«I have the impression, in following the debate, that someone has made a little confusion regarding the roles of the institutions…».

Why does he say that?

«On April 11, the government declared an immigration emergency throughout the country. Then, five days later, Valerio Valenti was appointed commissioner for this emergency. With the prefects of all the regional capital cities as subjects implementing the policies on the subject. So, I remember the precise chain of decisions: government, interior minister, commissioner, prefects. This is, not another…».

But, in fact, there is also his and Mayor Conte’s proposal for “widespread reception”.
«Given that, as I was saying, the Region has no competence and the flow is managed from Rome through the prefectures, I think it is entirely legitimate that a couple of months ago with Conte, we posed the problem of thinking of a document in principle”.

What were you worried about?

«The evil trend was already visible then, with the arrival of 150 or 200 immigrants a day. The document asked and asks to invest as much as possible in widespread hospitality. To avert situations like that of Cona or the creation of other tent cities».

How do you judge the situation today?

“The data is disturbing. Last year there were 105,000 arrivals. Today, in mid-July, they are already over 72 thousand. I would say that our borders have become a sieve and we have become the underbelly of Europe. But there are particularly worrying numbers.

Which?

“Out of 100 arrivals, 12% obtain refugee status, 13% are subject to subsidiary protection, 21% to special protection. But those who have no title are 53%. The question is: what happens to these people? Will we be able to repatriate them all?

He seems to doubt it…

“Of course! Should we be able to repatriate half of the arrivals with a system that leaks everywhere? I think that the measure is already full ».

And so?

«I say that Italy has been too willing, my Veneto can’t take it anymore and all of Africa can’t stay in Italy. And we live in the embarrassment of a totally fugitive European Union. With Lampedusa seen as the border of Italy and not of Europe».

Having said all this, why do even Northern League MPs complain?

«They rightly complain about what happened in the Vicenza area with the prefecture, an unacceptable fact (migrants left by the prefectures in front of the Municipalities with little or no notice). As far as I’m concerned, I remember that the level of institutional responsibilities is different from the political one… however, seeing the determination and passion with which some have intervened on the issue, perhaps it will also happen that no more migrants will arrive in Veneto. ..».

But how do you judge the government’s action on the issue?

«The result is on the territory. That’s where we have the migrants. I realize that it is an international situation that goes beyond the dynamics of choosing a country. But it is equally true that this will be a great test for the government. Also because citizens have many expectations on this issue”.

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