Politics
Of Giuseppe Ariola – May 17, 2024
Under house arrest for ten days now, Giovanni Toti makes it known through his lawyer that he has not committed crimes and that he wants to demonstrate his innocence during the interrogation with the magistrates which, however, will not be held before May 27th at the earliest. An anomalous circumstance which we spoke about with the federal deputy secretary of the League Andrea Crippa.
You spoke of ‘obstinacy’ towards Toti.
“Absolutely yes, because there is a suspect in a relevant investigation involving a democratically elected regional president who has been asking to be heard for several days, but the magistrates do not want to question him. Yesterday a date was finally identified, but in two weeks. So, in an investigation in an important region like Liguria whose president is accused of crimes, there are magistrates who make him wait almost a month to give him the opportunity, which is his right, to have an interrogation . In my opinion this is obstinacy and I would not want the political question, that of Toti’s resignation, to be linked to his release. Toti is not from my party, I would say the same things if a regional president, a regional councilor or a representative of any political movement were involved.”
There are those who argue that it should be cooked over a low heat.
“In my opinion that’s how it is. They are trying to wear him down in the hope that he will resign and Liguria can go to the vote. But democracy is at stake here because, if the judiciary, which should guarantee the possibility of defending himself to an accused who represents the Ligurian people, instead cooks him over a slow fire, it means that there is a system in which the choice of the people wants to be subverted by judicial strategies that lead certain people to not have the possibility, imminently and suddenly, of being able to protect themselves. It is not clear why Toti has to wait a month, while all the other suspects were heard in a short time.”
In the meantime the media pillory is fueled.
“It’s obvious. The wiretaps that are appearing in some newspapers, for example in the daily Fatto, are shameful. They have nothing to do with the trial and only serve to ruin the lives and credibility of the people involved.”
Can Toti hold up in these conditions for so long?
“I think and hope that it will hold up. Obviously, I speak as a person who is not experiencing his situation, but I invite Toti, who at this moment I understand is also psychologically affected, especially if he were innocent, to resist and not resign, because if he hasn’t done anything it’s right that he defend himself. The problem is that the judiciary is denying him the possibility of doing so quickly.”
The president of the ANM says that justice does not follow the pace of politics, but the investigating judge ordered Toti’s arrest precisely in view of the elections. It’s written in the ordinance. What do you think?
“I remember that we are talking about an investigation closed in December, but the provision that ordered precautionary custody was only issued in May, especially for crimes that would imply a connection with the mafia. Therefore, with respect to a person investigated for corruption and mafia-type crimes, we wait five months to issue the precautionary custody order. Coincidentally, one month before the European elections. Let’s say that there are certainly some particular coincidences.”
Doesn’t this investigation make it appropriate to reflect on the return to public financing?
“Politics must have the courage to address and explore this issue. If regular financing, tracked and reported on the balance sheet by a company to a party is prosecutable because it is seen as a corruptive weapon, it is clear that the democracy of this country is being put at risk. Also because an electoral campaign costs several million euros, money is needed to support a party. Once public funding has been eliminated, funding must be requested from those who want to contribute to the democratic life of a party. However, if this instrument is then interpreted as corruptive, and the Toti affair demonstrates this, it is clear that the sustainability of the parties and, therefore, of democracy is called into question. The return to public financing with strict rules, so that parties no longer have to turn to entrepreneurs, but receive public money to support their activities, is an issue that politics must address.”
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