Why Macron arrested former members of the Italian Red Brigades
The Red Brigades, the most notorious extreme left group in Italy during the “years of lead”.
- AFP / File
Text by: Anthony Lattier Follow
5 mins
Italy displays its "
satisfaction
" after the arrest in France of seven former members of the Red Brigades, three others are still wanted.
At the request of Rome, this crackdown targeting 10 people convicted in Italy for acts of terrorism dating back to the 1970s and 1980s was decided by Emmanuel Macron.
He thus settled an old dispute between Rome and Paris by breaking with the benevolence granted by the French authorities.
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What explains this about-face of France, it is first of all the arrival of Mario Draghi at the head of Italy.
His relations with Emmanuel Macron are good.
The two men discussed this matter a week ago.
According to the Élysée, the French head of state was sensitive to this "
very strong need for justice
" in Italy while "
France was also confronted with terrorism
".
This decision marks a break since since François Mitterrand, France has sheltered or sheltered on its soil ex-Italian activists like Cesare Battisti and has only extradited very few.
For this reason, the lawyers of the Italians arrested on Wednesday speak of "
unspeakable treason
".
► See also:
France: seven former members of the Italian Red Brigades arrested
"
France has no more words
", adds the head of rebellious France Jean-Luc Mélenchon.
The French Minister of Justice Eric Dupond-Moretti assures him, on the contrary, that Paris strictly respects the doctrine enacted in 1985 by the former French socialist president François Mitterrand not to extradite former Italian activists, except those who have committed crimes of blood: “
I have absolutely no mood.
I am proud to participate in this decision which, I hope, will allow Italy, after forty years, to turn a page in its history which is stained with blood and tears.
"
According to his entourage, Emmanuel Macron thus puts an end to "
years of procrastination, or even a certain complacency
" from the French authorities, said his entourage.
From now on, this "
subject is closed
", assures the French presidency which welcomes a "
historic moment
" in the Franco-Italian relationship.
Justice must now rule on their extradition, on a case-by-case basis.
Reactions are linked in Italy
Since the broadcast by the transalpine media of the arrest in France, where they had long been refugees, of seven former members of the Red Brigades and other terrorist organizations, whose acts have left hundreds dead and thousands injured between 1970 and 1980, reactions are everywhere, reports our correspondent in Rome,
Anne Le Nir.
One of the first to react was the president of the Italian association of families of victims of terrorism, Roberto Della Rocca: “
We expected a surge of dignity from France. And it was urgent to act because sentences were likely to be prescribed for some of the former terrorists arrested in France
. " For his part, the head of government, Mario Draghi, expressed his satisfaction with France's decision to launch legal proceedings against "
those responsible for barbaric acts who have left a wound still open.
All the representatives of the political parties also expressed their relief for the settlement of a dispute between Rome and Paris which dates back more than 40 years.
But as the journalist Mario Calabresi, whose father was assassinated by a commando of Lotta Continua, underlines it, in 1972, the Italians do not seek vendetta.
“
Justice was finally respected, but,
” he said, “
I have no pleasure in seeing old and sick people in prison.
"
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Italy
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Emmanuel Macron
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