by InTrieste
Italy’s Interior Minister Matteo Salvini spoke to journalists on Monday evening ahead of a public event at Stazione Marittima in Trieste, addressing the country’s recent Olympic preparations and the government’s ongoing port reform initiatives.
Speaking about Cortina, where the Winter Olympics are held, Salvini praised the work done at the Olympic village and bobsleigh track. “This morning I was at the Olympic village in Cortina, I spoke with the athletes. Even those who were skeptical initially recognized the facilities are beautiful, sustainable, and the bobsleigh track is fantastic according to the athletes,” he said. He added that Italy’s presentation to the world through the Olympics reflects the country’s beauty and expertise, and criticized what he described as opposition from political rivals.
Salvini also responded to criticism from the Democratic Party regarding reforms to the port of Trieste, which he described as misguided. “The PD claims twenty million euros will be taken away, staff removed, and powers reduced, but this reform mainly ensures national coordination while respecting local autonomy,” he said. Salvini emphasized that the port of Trieste, one of Italy’s major hubs for goods coming from the East and South, will not lose any resources under the reform. “Trieste won’t lose anything, Genoa won’t lose anything, Civitavecchia won’t lose anything — there is simply national coordination because each port has unique characteristics,” he said.
On investments, Salvini highlighted that nearly one billion euros are currently underway at the port of Trieste and three and a half billion euros across the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region. He said these projects demonstrate the government’s commitment to infrastructure and regional development, and dismissed opposition claims that the reforms would weaken the ports’ competitiveness.
On political matters, Salvini addressed the question of potential candidates for local elections in Venice, stating that the center-right’s strength lies in its team rather than a single individual. He also ruled out renewed political collaboration with certain former allies, saying, “When trust is broken, that chapter is closed. I don’t dwell on it; I move forward.”
