Politics
Italy: Call for 'segregated' public transport
Milan, 8 May (AKI) - A controversial suggestion to introduce segregated areas for immigrants on public transport in the Italian city of Milan has provoked fierce debate in Italy. Matteo Salvini, an MP from Italy's anti-immigrant Northern League party, suggested providing separate areas on the city's public transport for non-immigrant residents on security grounds.
Addressing a rally in Milan on Thursday ahead of local and European parliamentary elections next month, Salvini said: "First we had seats reserved to pregnant women and invalids. Why not have seats or entire compartments reserved for the Milanese?"
Politicians across Italy's political spectrum immediately attacked the proposal with some from the left calling it "apartheid" and reminiscent of pre-civil-rights era segregation in the United States.
President of the lower house of parliament Gianfranco Fini said the proposal was offensive and at odds with Italy's constitution.
"He should read the constitution, a proposal like that is offensive under the constitution and to people's dignity," Fini said.
Italy's opposition leader, Dario Francheschini, also attacked the suggestion and said it recalled the US civil rights era.
"This recalls the experience of the black woman Rosa Parks, who, refused to give up her seat on a bus, inspiring the US civil rights movement led by Martin Luther King," said Francheschini.
"It is proves we're right when we say the ruling majority is putting forward racist proposals," he added.
Milan's mayor Letizia Moratti downplayed Salvini's comments, saying only: "Passenger safety on the city's public transport is already amply guaranteed."
The parliamentary chief whip for the ruling conservative People of Freedom party, Fabrizio Cicchitto, claimed Salvini had been "just been making a joke".
Italy's equal opportunties minister Mara Carafagna, however appeared to agree with Fini that Salvini's proposal was unconstitutional.
"Citizens are all equal before the law, and for this reason, it's impossible to be in favour of segregated public transport," she said.
Perceptions that immigrants are responsible for rising crime in Italy has sparked a backlash against immigration, especially among many conservative voters.
Northern Italy is one of the areas of the country with the highest number of immigrants and is the heartland of the Northern League, the government's coalition partner.
Addressing a rally in Milan on Thursday ahead of local and European parliamentary elections next month, Salvini said: "First we had seats reserved to pregnant women and invalids. Why not have seats or entire compartments reserved for the Milanese?"
Politicians across Italy's political spectrum immediately attacked the proposal with some from the left calling it "apartheid" and reminiscent of pre-civil-rights era segregation in the United States.
President of the lower house of parliament Gianfranco Fini said the proposal was offensive and at odds with Italy's constitution.
"He should read the constitution, a proposal like that is offensive under the constitution and to people's dignity," Fini said.
Italy's opposition leader, Dario Francheschini, also attacked the suggestion and said it recalled the US civil rights era.
"This recalls the experience of the black woman Rosa Parks, who, refused to give up her seat on a bus, inspiring the US civil rights movement led by Martin Luther King," said Francheschini.
"It is proves we're right when we say the ruling majority is putting forward racist proposals," he added.
Milan's mayor Letizia Moratti downplayed Salvini's comments, saying only: "Passenger safety on the city's public transport is already amply guaranteed."
The parliamentary chief whip for the ruling conservative People of Freedom party, Fabrizio Cicchitto, claimed Salvini had been "just been making a joke".
Italy's equal opportunties minister Mara Carafagna, however appeared to agree with Fini that Salvini's proposal was unconstitutional.
"Citizens are all equal before the law, and for this reason, it's impossible to be in favour of segregated public transport," she said.
Perceptions that immigrants are responsible for rising crime in Italy has sparked a backlash against immigration, especially among many conservative voters.
Northern Italy is one of the areas of the country with the highest number of immigrants and is the heartland of the Northern League, the government's coalition partner.
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