Deputy Premier and Labour and
Industry Minister Luigi Di Maio on Friday denied reports that
the government was reconsidering its decision to revoke the
concession of highways company Autostrade per l'Italia after
this week's bridge-collapse disaster in Genoa.
"I say this loud and clear - the political will is there. We
want to revoke the concession of Autostrade per l'Italia," said
Di Maio, the leader of the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement
(M5S).
"You cannot keep pretending that nothing has happened.
"These people continue to have the toll paid without doing
ordinary and extraordinary maintenance and it's time to say no
more.
"They wrote that the government is holding back. That's
false.
"The government is accelerating and it will revoke the
concessions".
Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said Friday that the
government's decision on revoking the concession of Autostrade
per l'Italia will not be influenced by any aid the highways
company offers to the victims of this week's Genoa
bridge-collapse disaster.
"We're not at the market," Salvini told Mediaset television
when asked if funds and aid could lead to a rethink in the
government's decision to revoke the concession.
"People are dead. If it does what I have said it should do,
Autostrade will have done the minimum to compensate the Italian
people.
"But we are not going to bargain when faced with this
tragedy.
"I'm not after vendetta, but the government's attitude will
be rigorous".
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