Strait of Messina Bridge Project Criticized as Public Funds Misuse by Green MP

Rome: Angelo Bonelli, an MP representing the Green-Left Alliance (AVS), has voiced strong opposition against the recently approved plan to construct a bridge over the Strait of Messina. He labeled the project as a substantial misuse of public funds and pledged continued resistance following the project’s definitive approval on Wednesday.

According to Ansa News Agency, Bonelli criticized the CIPESS committee’s decision to greenlight the project, highlighting the allocation of £14.6 billion of public money without any private investment involvement. He compared the scale of the expenditure to previous administrations, stating, “Not even Berlusconi had dared to do something like this.”

Bonelli further condemned Transport and Infrastructure Minister Matteo Salvini, calling the project a “masterpiece” of unnecessary spending on concrete and propaganda. He emphasized the disregard for environmental concerns and seismic risks, noting that one of the bridge’s pylons is planned to stand on an active fault line.

The government’s decision was described by Bonelli as a disregard for transparency and legality, as relevant technical bodies’ opinions were overlooked. He remarked that the regions of Sicily and Calabria require essential infrastructure improvements for the well-being of their citizens, such as railways, drinking water, and transportation systems, rather than a bridge that connects two inadequately developed areas.