Right-Wing Politicians Condemn Salis for Comments on Verona Cop Eviction Deaths

Rome: The Italian centre-right political faction expressed strong disapproval on Thursday towards Ilaria Salis, a Green-Left Alliance (AVS) Member of the European Parliament (MEP), following her controversial remarks about the tragic deaths of three Carabinieri officers. The officers were killed in a gas explosion trap during an eviction operation near Verona on Wednesday, which Salis attributed to the failures of capitalism.

According to Ansa News Agency, Salis, known for her activism in squatting and her recent legal escape from a Hungarian jail sentence related to charges of attacking neo-Nazis, commented on the incident by urging an understanding of the “malaise” felt by the family who allegedly set the deadly gas trap. Her remarks were quickly met with backlash from the centre-right political circle, particularly from Forza Italia (FI) Senate Whip Maurizio Gasparri, who described her statements as “shameful.”

Gasparri criticized Salis for suggesting that the Carabinieri deaths were a result of desperation linked to political failures, branding her statements as irresponsible. He stressed that those who supported Salis hold a significant responsibility for her comments and the potential repercussions of her rhetoric. Gasparri specifically called out political figures like Fratoianni and Bonelli, demanding they be held accountable for the perceived political and moral implications of Salis’s stance.

Salis had argued that the root of the tragic incident lies in systemic issues, specifically pointing to the denial of fundamental rights and the transformation of housing into a speculative asset due to capitalism. She warned that politicians who ignore these root causes share responsibility for the crisis and the resulting tragedies. Salis emphasized that access to housing should not be a privilege but a basic right necessary for a dignified life.

The response from other centre-right Members of Parliament was equally severe, labeling Salis’s comments as “disgraceful,” “unacceptable,” and “an insult to the memory of servants of the State.” The incident and subsequent political fallout have sparked a broader debate on housing rights and the responsibilities of political figures in addressing systemic social issues.