The penal shield as "fig leaf". The charge of the M5s to ArcelorMittal

KURT DESPLENTER / BELGA MAG / BELGA

The penal shield, canceled for the vertices of the former Ilva, is only a fig leaf for the multinational ArcelorMittal who took over the Taranto facilities. Back no return. This is the position of M5s which, on this point, is referred to as a compact gear. The decision to present the suppressive amendment of article 14 of the Senate Business Decree Law which contained the time penal protection, for those who were at the helm of the Apulian steel industry, did not have a simple gestation and was the subject of a long confrontation.

In 'dance ", in fact, two interests of constitutional importance: the right to health and the right to work, but the norm signed by the former minister Barbara Lezzi and by another 17, finally, it was approved. The Apulian senators, as well as their colleagues at Montecitorio, had let it be understood that they would not vote in favor of the provision or even of trust, then placed on the decree, if this provision had not been eliminated.

There are three fixed points: ArcelorMittal bluffs because it cannot give up the iron and steel industry it has taken over. A survey of workers led 90% of the members of the USB union to say no to criminal immunity. The shield would have been unconstitutional.

To talk about FIG leaf, yesterday evening, almost in unison, were the Minister of Economic Development, Stefano Patuanelli, and some Apulian deputies who have followed the question closely: "It is obvious to everyone that the question of criminal immunity is the fig leaf behind which Mittal hides its economic interests and the attempt to offload the costs of losses to Italians economic, which this year amounted to around 800 million, and beat cash with the state.The immunity does not want it nor the workers – it is today a survey within the former Ilva that confirms it – nor local institutions at all the levels, from the mayor of Taranto to the president of the Region, from the ARPA to the Prosecutor's Office of Taranto ", the Tarantini spokesmen of the 5-star MoVement in the House affirm Gianpaolo Cassese, Rosalba De Giorgi, Alessandra Ermellino is Giovanni Vianello.

"It is Mittal herself who acknowledged, during an audition, that the immunity question is not in the contract: this makes it impossible for them to contest any non-compliance with the agreements – the pentastellate deputies continue – the Italian State has so far respected all the agreements agreed upon, something that the Indian multinational is not doing, as the workers themselves confirm The impression is that they are escaping their duties towards the citizens and workers of Taranto, artfully creating an alarm that only damages the territory. It is not with this attitude, unfortunately confirmed even today in the press, that the company can determine the conditions so that it can continue to manage the plant ", they add.

"For us there is no negotiation possible if we do not put the right to health of the citizens of Taranto first and the right to the safety of the workers of the steelworks. Our invitation, therefore, is to evaluate a program agreement on the model of the one put in place in Genoa, which was able to combine health, respect for the environment and conservation of employment levels, and only in this way will it be possible to continue along the path, already traced, of the economic conversion of the Tarantino territory, on which the government must make a decisive change ".

For Senator Barbara Lezzi "it is unheard of for a multinational company not to keep the commitments made with our state and politicians, by Renzi to Berlusconi, which are becoming intimidating are without pride and dignity. They don't deserve to speak on behalf of the Italians. Article 51 of the Criminal Code and Decree 231 of 2001 on the liability of directors also protect those of the former Ilva. Don't pretend to pretext on the skin of the workers and citizens of Taranto "

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister will see ArcelorMittal's representatives this afternoon and the match does not seem to be closed. Also for the premier, according to what transpires from the meeting with the unions, the rule on the penal protection cannot be considered justification for a withdrawal by the multinational.

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