Mayor in Italy accused of fascism after ban on groups congregating

Published on Sunday 3 August 2008 22:25

AN ITALIAN mayor has been accused of fascism after he passed an edict banning groups of more than three people congregating in parks and public gardens.

Massimo Giordano, a member of Italy's anti immigration Northern League party, defended the motion and claimed it would cut down on unruly behaviour.

However, opposition councillors have responded with fury and said it was "reminiscent of Benito Mussolini's edict of the 1920's which banned groups of five or more people".

The ban will obviously not affect courting couples who flock to parks and gardens in the northern Italian city of Novara. But if anyone is caught in a group of three or more they face a fine of 500 (350).

Mayor Giordano said that the edict would ban "gatherings in a bid to protect public decorum and prevent damage to public parks and gardens" from people who gathered in them at night.

Novara, which has a population of 100,000, is not seen as a particularly crime-ridden or violent city, but the mayor passed the law after several elderly residents had made complaints about noise.

As part of the crackdown on unruly behaviour, Mayor Giordano has also banned drinking at the city's railway station after 6pm and closed down a immigrant cultural centre.

Opposition councillor Sara Paladini described the response as over the top. She said: "There is no emergency situation in Novara – there is no need for such a Fascist edict. There are other better ways to tackle the city's problems."

However, another councillor, Mauro Franzinelli, who holds the portfolio for security, said the comparison with fascism was "absurd". He said: "This ruling is needed to limit public disturbance. The citizens of Novara asked for it.

"I understand opposition-left councillors plan to gather and protest in groups of more than three – we will not fine them this time. One thing I will say, though, is that to compare the ordinance with Fascism is absurd. We are trying to solve issues but are being accused of Fascism."

The term 'Italian Fascism' denotes the authoritarian Fascismo political movement that ruled Italy from 1922 until 1943 under leader Mussolini.