Meloni condemns 'organized violence' in Val di Susa, vows state won't back down

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni visited the Val di Susa region, the site of recent clashes between anti-high-speed rail protesters and police. She strongly condemned the violence, stating it was not dissent but "organized, premeditated violence" that must be treated as such.

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120 operators of public security who are injured deserve a presence of the institutions. It is the reason why this morning we are here with the Minister of the Interior Matteo Piantedosi, to say that the State is there, and does not intend to back down.

Meloni, accompanied by Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, asserted that the state is present and will not back down. She highlighted that 120 law enforcement officers were injured in the recent confrontations. "A normal state cannot tolerate such a thing," Meloni declared in an official video, vowing to ensure those responsible are brought to justice.

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This is not dissent. This is organized, premeditated violence, and as such it must be treated.

The Prime Minister also extended her support to the workers and businesses involved in the Torino-Lione high-speed rail project. She noted the significant cost to taxpayers for security at the site, which is guarded 24/7 due to the ongoing protests. Meloni emphasized her solidarity with the laborers and engineers whose work is being destroyed, stating, "We are here, also for them."

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We will do everything we can to bring these people to justice and we also ask, obviously, those responsible, the judiciary, all investigators, to do their utmost, because a normal state cannot tolerate such a thing.