BRINDISI – The table set up in the hall of Palazzo Montenegro was unprecedented, at least in these parts. Some of the top exponents of the national security forces met this afternoon (Tuesday 4 June) at the residence of the prefect of Brindisi, to oil the last gears in view of the G7 scheduled for 13 to 15 June in Borgo Egnazia. The meeting of the provincial committee for order and security, in maxi format, was chaired by the Minister of the Interior, Matteo Piantedosi, flanked by the host, the prefect Luigi Carnevale.
The minister reached Palazzo Montenegro just before 4 pm. The seafront was teeming with tourists. The Brindisi – Corfu regatta village was being set up a few meters from the summit venue. Some boats are already moored at the dock. More will arrive in the next few days.
The presence of blue cars and police vehicles did not go unnoticed. Many onlookers gathered in front of Palazzo Montenegro. The people of Brindisi knew that all the commotion was due to the G7. The holidaymakers wondered what was happening, attracted by the “platoon” of journalists stationed waiting for the illustrious figure.
Piantedosi was one of the first to arrive, accompanied by the police chief, Vittorio Pisani, and the police commissioner Giampietro Lionetti. In the reception hall there were also the minister’s chief of staff, Maria Teresa Ancheviva, the head of the ceremonial of the presidency of the council of ministers Francesco Piazza, the head of the delegation for the Italian presidency of the G7 Nicola Lener, the extraordinary commissioner for implementation of infrastructural interventions connected with the Italian presidency of the G7 Fulvio Maria Soccodato.
Emiliano: “Health plan delivered”
The president of the Puglia Region, Michele Emiliano, was one of the last to arrive and the first to meet journalists at the end of the meeting, which lasted about an hour. The governor reported that the Region has delivered the regional health plan to the undersecretary of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Alfredo Mantovano. The document will be integrated with the indications provided by the national security services, during a meeting scheduled for tomorrow in Rome.
VIDEO – EMILIANO’S STATEMENTS
Then it was the turn of the mayor of Fasano, Francesco Zaccaria. His fellow citizens are waiting to find out the restrictions that will apply between the Savelletri marina and the Borgo Egnazia resort, the beating heart of the summit of the leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States. Some sessions will also be extended to the president of Ukraine and Türkiye and the president of the UN. Pope Francis will participate in the session dedicated to artificial intelligence.
Marchionna: “No parking in the city on key days”
The people of Brindisi are also awaiting news on the security perimeter around the Castello Svevo and on what cannot be done during the days of the summit. The provisions will be communicated by the prefecture in the next few days. The mayor Marchionna he explained that on June 13th (but perhaps also the day before?) a parking ban will be established in a large portion of the center. The perimeter of the security zone is not yet known. What is certain is that 2,700 parking spaces will be provided in the belt surrounding the capital, with a free connection service between the center and the outskirts, guaranteed by the STP shuttle bus.
VIDEO: THE STATEMENTS OF MARCHIONNA AND ZACCARIA
The key event, as far as the city is concerned, will be dinner at the Castle. The mayor anticipated that in addition to the seven leaders and the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, will also participate. The city will also host the President of India, Narendra Modi, who will inaugurate (it is not yet known when) a bust of Gandhi on the Regina Margherita seafront.
The minister: “Attention, not worry”
After the interviews with the governor and mayors, the wait for the end of the committee lasted for more than an hour. In the meantime, the crowd of onlookers outside Palazzo Montenegro grew thicker. Minister Piantedosi went down to the courtyard, where he was awaited by the press, around 6.15 pm, providing reassurances on the possible risk of riots.
VIDEO – PIANTEDOSI’S STATEMENTS
“There are no worries”, explains the minister, about what could be protest initiatives during the three days of the G7: “We take them into account, we trust that we are contained”. “It is legitimate – states the minister – to demonstrate, we we are paying attention to what is expected, we have no worries, in the sense of significant critical issues with respect to what has been put in place. There is attention, yes.”
Piantedosi describes the G7 as “a great opportunity, not only because of the importance of the appointment”. “It will be a very important showcase for Puglia: one of the many ways in which we show the world our beauties”. Rather than critical issues, the minister talks about “complexity management”. “We must guarantee the delegations the right hospitality”.
This is a demanding challenge, considering that 15 delegations are expected, including countries and institutions, for a total of thousands of people. A series of extraordinary security measures is inevitable, including “air interdiction – explains Piantedosi – the control of some stretches of the sea, establishing alternative routes and many other measures that are not implemented on a daily basis”.
But the minister is calm: “I am confident that everything will go well and that Brindisi and Puglia will make a very worthy impression in this too.” “The scenario is among the best that could be offered – he concludes – for an event like this”.
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