Meloni Government’s Mountain Municipality Decree Sparks Outcry in piedmont Region
The new classification of mountain municipalities decreed by the Italian government has ignited controversy, with critics alleging a politically motivated decision that will disproportionately impact vulnerable territories. The decree, spearheaded by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Minister Calderoli, is accused of reducing the number of officially recognized mountain areas, perhaps jeopardizing vital funding and services for affected communities.
A statement released by Riccardo brezza, secretary of the Democratic Party of the Verbano-Cusio-Ossola (VCO) province, condemns the move as “short-sighted and divisive.” Brezza asserts that the decree operates under the guise of “objective criteria” but represents a purposeful policy choice to shift the social costs onto already fragile regions.
The new classification impacts the VCO province directly, recognizing 67 municipalities as mountainous while excluding seven: Arizzano, Baveno, Belgirate, Cambiasca, Ghiffa, Verbania, and Vignone. While acknowledging that Verbania and Belgirate were not previously designated as mountain municipalities, Brezza argues that the government’s action transforms an administrative distinction into a “rigid and punitive barrier.” This, he warns, risks excluding thousands of citizens from future state policies without providing adequate support or compensation.
The situation is notably concerning for municipalities like Arizzano, Baveno, Cambiasca, Ghiffa, and Vignone, which were previously recognized as mountainous by the Piedmont Region. Their exclusion from the national list, according to Brezza, “artificially breaks up a province that shares the same structural fragilities: lack of services, difficulties in connections, depopulation, health and school facilities in difficulty.”
Beyond the immediate impact on funding, the decree threatens to erode the concept of “mountain specificity” that has been cultivated in the VCO over years of center-left governance. This shift could have far-reaching consequences, impacting mechanisms like the transfer and redistribution of water fees to the Provincial Authority.
Adding fuel to the fire, Brezza criticized Minister Calderoli’s remarks in Parliament, where the minister allegedly spoke of “improper advantages” enjoyed by certain communities.”An offensive and irresponsible language, which humiliates administrators and citizens and reveals a punitive conception of territorial policies,” Brezza stated. He emphasized that these communities are not seeking privileges but are simply striving to maintain tough territories with dwindling resources.
The Democratic Party official framed the decision as consistent with the government’s broader approach: prioritizing support for strong territories while imposing cuts and rigidity on those deemed fragile, thereby exacerbating existing territorial disparities.
Consequently, Brezza urgently called on the Piedmont Region, and specifically Regional Undersecretary Alberto Preioni, to intervene.He advocated for a revision of the classification, the inc
“It is a national strategic resource.” He concluded by stating that the Piedmont Region cannot afford to remain passive while the government divides and weakens its territories.
Here’s a substantive news report answering the “Why, Who, What, and How” questions:
What: The Italian government, led by prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Minister Calderoli, issued a new decree reclassifying mountain municipalities. This decree reduced the number of officially recognized mountain areas within the Verbano-Cusio-Ossola (VCO) province in the Piedmont Region, specifically excluding seven municipalities: Arizzano, Baveno
