The attack on journalist Sigfrido Ranucci is “ alarming “, which is precisely why a “ strong reaction is needed.” This was stated by the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella, meeting on Monday in Brussels with the Presidents of the Belgian Chamber of Deputies and the Belgian Senate, Peter de Roover and Vincent Blondel. During his visit, the Head of State thanked them for their reference to the bomb that destroyed the journalist's car and that of his daughter in front of their home in Pomezia on Thursday evening:"This is common to all those who hold democracy dear. Journalism and freedom of the press, investigative journalism, any form of journalism," Mattarella added,"is an unavoidable pillar of our democratic life. And so what is happening is alarming; it's not the first time it's happened in many countries around the world, but it is alarming, and it requires a strong reaction, as is happening."
Mattarella also recalled that the authorities must always be "very vigilant" in combating organized crime, which is capable of rapidly modernizing the"criminal tools" it uses for its business."The reference made to our shared commitment to combating organized crime," he said, addressing de Roover. In Italy,"unfortunately, we have a rather extensive experience in this regard, which has seen regulatory advances in very, very effective investigative and countermeasure tools, as well as significant successes in our country." "The suffering that crime has caused in our country," he continued,"has taught us that we must always be very vigilant, because" mafiosi "have a knack for updating criminal tools that requires a greater knack for updating countermeasures," he concluded.
The President of the Republic also returned to the explosion of October 14 in Castel d'Azzano , in the Verona area, which cost the lives of three Carabinieri : an episode resulting from"unimaginable madness", underlined Mattarella."I would like to thank," he said,"the President of the Senate for his solidarity following the assassination of the three Carabinieri in recent days in Italy. I went to the funerals of the three Carabinieri, not only to be close to their families and the Carabinieri, but to underline how completely unimaginable this was an episode of madness", he concluded.
The Head of State also recalled the strong bond between Italy and Belgium:"I cannot remain silent about a feeling we all feel when we arrive in Brussels, feeling at home as the capital of Europe." "The arrival and presence here of so many Italians in Belgium," he added,"happening over several seasons, is a particularly intense bond. Many Belgian citizens have Italian origins, and many Italians live in Belgium. Now there are Italians who come attracted by Belgium's level of scientific advancement, so they are researchers, young students, scholars, and entrepreneurs," he concluded."The Italian community is one of the largest foreign communities in Belgium," the President of the Republic explained.
Mattarella also thanked the presidents of the Belgian Senate and Chamber of Deputies"for their warm welcome at this challenging time, the budget, which is a troubled time in every country." The Head of State recalled that the approval of the budget is "an annual event that always involves a great deal of discussion, great sensitivities, and many needs." "However," he concluded,"our democracies always manage to find the right point of arrival."
