Campi Flegrei, Musumeci defends himself: "The mayors didn't ask me for an appointment."

Ischia – "I read in the newspaper that there was a demonstration for the Campi Flegrei. The mayors didn't notify me, and not only that, they never asked me for an appointment." Civil Protection Minister Nello Musumeci commented on the demonstration that yesterday brought over 700 displaced people and residents of the Campi Flegrei to Rome, who took to the streets to demand concrete answers and urgent action from the government regarding the consequences of bradyseism.

The statements were made in Ischia during an official visit, and reopen the institutional debate over the management of the emergency in the Phlegraean Fields. At the heart of the protest are requests for support for families forced to leave their homes and the need for measures capable of addressing the long-term effects of the earthquake.

«The laws agreed with the Region and Municipalities»

Musumeci affirmed the government's approach thus far, emphasizing that the legislative measures adopted for the Phlegraean Fields were agreed upon with the Campania Region and the municipal administrations of Pozzuoli, Bacoli, and Naples.

"All the laws passed so far regarding the Phlegraean Fields have been agreed upon with the Campania Region and the municipalities of Pozzuoli, Bacoli, and Naples," the minister declared, adding: "So I wonder who the protest is directed against. There's no need to protest to demand further action."

These words mark a departure from the methods chosen by protesters to demand government intervention. The Roman demonstrations brought to the capital the concerns of those living in the areas affected by bradyseism and those who have already had to deal with uninhabitable buildings and forced to leave their homes.

New decree promises long-term measures

Despite criticism of the protest, the minister assured that the government is working on a new decree dedicated to the Phlegraean Fields. The measure, as announced, will introduce further measures to address the consequences of bradyseism and reorganize the measures adopted since September 2023.

The stated goal is to move beyond management limited to individual emergency interventions, outlining "a long-term perspective compared to those adopted so far."

It remains to be seen what concrete measures will be included in the decree, what resources will be allocated, and how quickly they will be implemented. These are some of the key points for residents who demand certainty about assistance, the safety of their homes, and their prospects for staying in the affected areas.

Stay or go: the choice of relocation

Regarding the future of the communities of Pozzuoli and other towns in the Phlegraean Fields, Musumeci clarified that the scientific authorities are responsible for assessing the possibility of continuing to live in the areas affected by bradyseism.

The minister also recalled that the right to relocation has been introduced for those wishing to leave at-risk areas. In these cases, he assured, the state will also provide financial support.
The issue remains central to the families involved: on the one hand, the desire to continue living in their neighborhoods, maintaining social ties and economic activities; on the other, the need to evaluate the safety conditions and consequences of a potential relocation.

The discussion between the government, local administrations, and citizens now turns to the announced measures and their concrete implementation. Following the demonstration in Rome, the demand for answers remains open, while the new decree is expected to be a decisive step in defining the support tools and long-term perspective for the Phlegraean Fields.