Divisions within Italian Politics on European Defense Policy and Support for Ukraine
The debate on the common defense policy and renewal of support for Ukraine, held Wednesday in the European Parliament, exposed deep divisions within both Italy’s center-left and center-right parties. The biggest turmoil occurred within the Democratic Party (PD), where Elly Schlein’s opposition to the ReArm Europe plan caused a rift. Although Schlein had criticized the plan, many influential PD members, including former leaders such as Enrico Letta and Romano Prodi, insisted on supporting it. The internal split highlighted growing tensions within the PD, with moderates criticizing Schlein’s increasingly radical stance. Meanwhile, in the center-right, the government coalition struggled to unify. The League opposed both the defense policy and the renewal of Ukraine support, while Forza Italia backed the Commission’s resolutions, and Fratelli d’Italia found itself in the middle, particularly split over the approach to U.S. diplomacy. The vote reflected these fractures and raised questions about future unity within Italian politics on EU defense matters.
Earthquake Strikes Campi Flegrei Near Naples, Causing Minor Damage
On the night between Wednesday and Thursday, a magnitude 4.4 earthquake struck the Campi Flegrei area near Naples, with the epicenter located between Bagnoli and Pozzuoli at a depth of 2 kilometers. The tremor, which occurred at 1:25 AM, was clearly felt across many parts of Campania. In Naples and surrounding towns, many residents evacuated their homes for safety and gathered on the streets. The most significant damage occurred in Pozzuoli, where firefighters responded to a ceiling collapse in a house, rescuing a person with minor injuries. In Bagnoli, debris fell from buildings, hitting parked cars but causing no injuries. Some residents were trapped in their homes due to jammed doors, but most managed to escape through windows, while others required assistance from firefighters. The Campi Flegrei region, an active volcanic area, frequently experiences tremors due to bradisism, a phenomenon involving soil movement caused by hot gases and fluids. The last earthquake of this magnitude occurred on May 20, 2024, the strongest in the last 40 years.
Forensic Report Clears Police of Responsibility in Fatal Pursuit Incident
A forensic report released Wednesday concluded that the death of 19-year-old Ramy Elgaml, who died during a police chase in Milan, was not caused by police actions. According to the expert, engineer Domenico Romaniello, the police car did not make contact with Elgaml’s scooter during the pursuit. Instead, the cause of death was the final crash into a traffic light after the police car had braked, and the “reckless and extremely dangerous” driving of Elgaml’s friend, 22-year-old Fares Bouzidi, who was riding the scooter. Elgaml’s death, which occurred in the early hours of November 24, 2024, sparked protests, especially in his hometown of Corvetto. The investigation includes charges against the carabinieri officer driving the pursuit vehicle and Bouzidi for vehicular manslaughter. Video footage from the incident showed police officers trying to force the scooter off the road, but it remained unclear if there was direct contact between the police car and the scooter. The report, based on various resources, including simulations, surveillance footage, and police reports, cleared the officers of improper conduct during the chase.
Bologna Prosecutors Investigate Former Conad Executives for Corruption and Money Laundering
The Bologna Public Prosecutor’s Office is investigating two former executives of the supermarket chain Conad, Francesco Pugliese and Mauro Bosio, in connection with a corruption and money laundering probe involving Conad’s acquisition of the French supermarket chain Auchan. Alongside the two, seven others, including family members, a transport entrepreneur, and a financier, are under investigation. The probe alleges that Pugliese and Bosio, with the help of relatives, set up a fake consulting firm through which companies and entrepreneurs paid bribes to secure contracts with Conad. The Italian financial police, Guardia di Finanza, have seized 36 million euros from the accused individuals, 28 million of which are allegedly linked to the bribes, and the remaining 8 million to money laundering activities. Conad is considered a victim in this case.
Veneto Introduces Bodycams and Smart Bracelets for Healthcare Workers’ Safety
On Wednesday, Veneto’s President Luca Zaia announced new measures to protect healthcare workers from increasing assaults in hospitals, allocating 4 million euros to purchase body cameras and smart bracelets for medical staff. The bodycams will be worn by doctors and nurses to record incidents, and the smart bracelets will be equipped with alarm systems for staff in high-risk areas such as emergency rooms and psychiatric wards. Veneto is the first region in Italy to implement such measures, with an estimated 7,000 devices set to be purchased through a European tender. A two-month trial of the bodycams will begin shortly in a hospital in Veneto, while the smart bracelets, which track vital signs and provide alerts, will be introduced later. These initiatives aim to address the growing issue of physical and verbal assaults on healthcare workers, a problem exacerbated by understaffed hospitals and the overburdened primary healthcare system. According to recent data from the Ministry of Health, there were over 18,000 reported assaults in Italy in 2024, marking a 15% increase from the previous year. In Veneto, there were 2,595 incidents, a sharp rise from previous years.
