Nothing «red zone», «bellows» closures in sensitive areas and hundreds of law enforcement operators engaged in the center of Turin and Venaria. Start today, with an impressive safety device, the G7 on Climate, Energy and Environment which will be hosted in the rooms of the Palace until Tuesday. In 2017 there were protests, clashes and arrests, but the prefect Donato Cafagna hopes that, 7 years later, no further disorders will be repeated.
How does Turin prepare to host an event of this magnitude?
«We are just returning from Planet Week, with around sixty events that took place in a very orderly manner. For these three days we have chosen a “concentric circles” device which allows us to limit inconvenience for citizens and to have a high level of safety in the most sensitive places. And that is the structures that host the delegations and, obviously, the Royal Palace of Venaria.”
After the clashes between police and students on the occasion of the “Conference of scientific and space workers and agricultural experts 2024”, is there also concern about today’s march in Venaria?
«At the moment there is no particular fear. The initiative on April 23rd was quite limited and now we are waiting for the procession, which will be made up of different souls. From environmentalists to anti-TAV groups and social centres. So far the discussions between the organizers and the police headquarters have been positive, the event has been regularly announced and the route has also been shared. So we hope that everything will take place without any accidents.”
The focus will not only be on Venaria.
«There have been some impromptu raids in Turin by environmentalist groups and it is logical to predict that there will be more, but we are constantly monitoring the situation, including the demonstrations in Val di Susa, to follow possible developments. At present there are no particular alarms.”
34 delegations arrived in Turin, around 200 people and today there will also be ministers in the city. Were additional forces required?
«The Ministry of the Interior has made resources available in addition to the territorial police forces to guarantee the safety of the delegations, the forum, all demonstrations and collateral events. A remarkable effort.”
And the day after the conclusion of the G7 there will be the May 1st procession. Could there be an aftermath of tensions?
«Already last year we worked in agreement with the trade unions to ensure that moments of conflict were avoided. We are continuing in this direction this year too.”
In these three days Turin will have the eyes of the world on it.
«It is a great Italian capital and is destined to host other events of this importance. With a joint effort by the government, municipality, region, academic and scientific world, it is preparing to become a center of attraction for technological innovation. And therefore on issues such as climate, energy and environment Turin proposes itself at an international level to carry out this role for which it feels suited”.
What do you feel like saying to those who take to the streets to protest?
«The right to demonstrate must be exercised in compliance with the rules and with those who are called upon to guarantee safety. We must all work to ensure that this right, which represents a very important constitutional value, is protected.”
