As is customary each year, operations to clear occupied buildings in Rome and its province have been suspended for the Christmas period. This decision, renewed by the Prefecture, impacts over sixty properties, housing thousands of individuals who lack alternative accommodation. Among these is the CasaPound headquarters in Esquilino, a building that has been continuously occupied for nearly 22 years, highlighting a complex and persistent challenge for successive governments.
A Recurring Truce Amidst Political Tensions
The annual Christmas moratorium on evictions provides a temporary reprieve for the approximately fifty residents of the building on Via Napoleone III – including women, minors, and activists. This long-term occupation has been a contentious issue, drawing accusations of ‘double standards’ against the current center-right government, particularly after the evictions of other social centers like Leoncavallo in Milan and Askatasuna in Turin. Yet, it has also posed challenges for previous center-left and technical administrations, underscoring the deep-rooted nature of the problem.
Just recently, Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi reiterated in the newspaper ‘Libero’ that a decisive intervention for this building, along with similar situations, could occur ‘as soon as possible.’ He emphasized his earlier inclusion of this property on the list of buildings to be vacated when he served as Prefect of Rome, a stance he has consistently maintained since August. The building currently ranks sixth on this list, ahead of another historically occupied Roman site with a contrasting political alignment, Spin Time in San Giovanni. Unlike the situations in Leoncavallo and Askatasuna, where few occupants were present during evictions, these top-priority sites house thousands of migrants, immigrants, and Italian citizens who cannot be evicted without providing alternative housing solutions.
Divergent Views Within the Government
Even within the government, there are differing opinions on how to address the CasaPound occupation. Public Administration Minister Paolo Zangrillo stated his belief that CasaPound, like Askatasuna, ‘must be evicted.’ Conversely, Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli suggested last summer that such a measure might not be necessary ‘if CasaPound aligns with legality criteria.’ Piantedosi summarized this by noting, ‘I believe he said that if it somehow becomes legalized, it might not be evicted. This has happened to other centers before. The Municipality of Rome even bought structures to legalize them; it has also happened in other cities.’ This suggests a potential path toward the building’s restitution, a case where ten activists were sentenced to two years and two months in 2023 for the occupation. CasaPound itself expressed openness in August, with spokesman Luca Marsella stating, ‘We want the same treatment as left-wing social centers: the Milan operation was a bluff to regularize an illegality; there was no eviction, but an agreement with the Municipality to transfer it. Otherwise, we will not move from here.’
The Economic and Social Cost of Occupation
The financial implications of these occupations are substantial. The Court of Auditors has demanded 4.6 million euros in compensation from nine directors of the State Property Agency and the Ministry of Education due to lost revenue from the CasaPound occupation. This highlights a broader issue of economic damage caused by unauthorized occupations. Beyond the financial aspect, the social cost is also significant. The presence of thousands of individuals in occupied buildings, often in precarious conditions, underscores a critical housing crisis in Rome. The lack of viable housing alternatives for these populations makes large-scale evictions a complex humanitarian and logistical challenge, requiring comprehensive social policies rather than mere enforcement actions.
The Broader Context: Housing Crisis and Urban Planning
The ongoing situation in Rome, characterized by numerous occupied buildings and the annual eviction truce, points to a deeper systemic issue: a severe housing crisis coupled with inadequate urban planning. The city’s inability to provide sufficient affordable housing options forces many into informal living arrangements, creating a cycle of occupation and temporary reprieves. This not only strains public resources but also perpetuates social inequalities. Effective solutions would require a multi-faceted approach, including significant investment in social housing, streamlined bureaucratic processes for property management, and a robust framework for integrating marginalized populations. Without such comprehensive strategies, the city will continue to face these recurring dilemmas, with the Christmas truce serving as a poignant annual reminder of unresolved societal challenges.
The debate surrounding these occupations, particularly that of CasaPound, also reflects broader political and ideological fault lines within Italy. The differing approaches proposed by government ministers – from outright eviction to potential legalization – illustrate the complexities of balancing legal enforcement with social considerations and political expediency. The comparison with other social centers, both left-wing and right-wing, further complicates the narrative, suggesting that the application of law can sometimes be influenced by political context rather than strict legal principles. As Rome navigates these challenges, the decisions made in the coming months will not only impact the fate of these occupied buildings but also signal the city’s commitment to addressing its fundamental housing and social inclusion issues.
Source: https://roma.corriere.it/notizie/cronaca/25_dicembre_21/occupazioni-a-roma-la-prefettura-dispone-la-tregua-di-natale-sugli-sgomberi-anche-per-casapound-1a08aea7-4272-4100-8655-d3bd02fe3xlk.shtml
