Girelli Criticizes Law 10: Mountain Communities Fear Centralized Control
Long live the mountain! The roar amplifies throughout Lombardy, with sound waves emanating from Pirelli Foundation into Valsabbia and bouncing between the valleys of rivers and streams before returning to Milan. But in this case, the echo does not reflect servile obedience: it dissents. “Much is being said about the mountain and its ongoing issues,” affirms Gianantonio Girelli, who has been president of the Comunità Valsabbina for five years, “.
Benefits for all, attention to local peculiarities, billions at disposal… sports and tourism, family and enterprises, roads, schools… For a few weeks now, regional representatives have been working to make us believe that in the coming years, all the struggles we’ve been fighting for could be easily resolved.” Here we go: the “barrage” of the political counter-offensive begins.
The voice of the Pirelli Foundation is contradicted by center-left allies, who do not share their opponents’ viewpoints. In recent days, as is customary before elections, the people around Formigoni have increased meetings with the electorate of the Polo. Last week, in Vestone, it was Giuseppe Romele, president of the Comitato della montagna, who presented the region’s reasons and perspectives to supporters and sympathizers.
Girelli’s opinions on Law 10
Perhaps Girelli is not pleased with Law 10, which was praised during the same occasion, believed by some to offer a “boost” to the chronic lack of funds experienced by the Alpine valleys? “That is what I am most concerned about,” explains the president of the Montana Community, elected in a center-left coalition, “and not so much about the handful of billions reaching the territory.
My impression is that the Roman centralism is being replaced by Milanese centralism; I cannot but dissent.” Please explain further. “Articles 3, 4, and 49 of that Law effectively tie the hands of entities operating directly in the territory,” he continues, “.
Projects and interventions approved by the Montana Communities must obtain a favorable opinion from the Region, which evaluates them based on its programming. We run the risk of just being “mail carriers” for decisions made in Milan.
Furthermore, the funds that the Region transferred as ordinary income (about 700 million euros for Valsabbia) will be diverted to pilot projects. If that’s the case, it seems impossible to balance the budget, not even for the ordinary management expenses of the Community.” Girelli does not limit himself to legislative counterpoints: “Some supporters of Formigoni push for political representation of ‘mountain people’ in central institutions; I do not agree.”
We need certainty: the application of the subsidiarity principle that respects local autonomies, secure revenue streams without the formal tricks of those who want to control from afar,” he states. “And then – he concludes – let’s go look at those who have represented our valleys from ‘outside’ in the past: they are the same people now shouting… wolf.”
