Italian Minister of Culture Gennaro Sangioliano announced on Tuesday that the Cabinet led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni decided on Tuesday
In addition to paying compensation ranging from 10,000 to 60,000 euros (3.7 million to 22.6 million forints), those who damage, desecrate or mutilate cultural assets are subject to criminal penalties.
The Italian parliament now has two months to pass a similar law. “The attacks on historical and artistic monuments cause economic damage to society,” Sangioliano said after the cabinet meeting.
As he said, cleaning mutilated cultural property requires highly trained personnel and expensive equipment. He added that those who commit acts of vandalism “must also bear financial responsibility.” The precedent of the decision is that climate activists in Italy, as in other European countries, have drawn attention to themselves with extraordinary actions.
Recently, activists from the climate group Last Generation poured a black liquid into the waters of the world famous Fontana della Barcaccia fountain located at the foot of the Spanish Steps in Rome. And in March, the walls of the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence were covered with orange paint. Similar attacks have been made on works of art such as a Van Gogh painting in Rome and Andy Warhol’s car in Milan.
Sangiuliano harshly criticized the incident at the Spanish Steps.
It’s time to say enough. We are facing a systematic destruction of our artistic and cultural heritage that has nothing on earth to do with environmental protection
– This was stated by the Italian Minister.
At the same time, climate activists who perpetrate acts of vandalism argue that the current government’s efforts to curb climate change are insufficient and, in their view, use legitimate forms of protest.
