First vandalized, now removed. A storm over the League's posters on the security bill, Molteni calls them "shameful."

First vandalized by unknown perpetrators, they have now been targeted by the Capitoline Hill and removed "because they violate current regulations regarding the ethical content of advertising. " The controversy over the League's "promotional" posters for the security decree posted in Rome is further escalating . Salvini's supporters, proud of the measures introduced by the decree—the crackdown on home occupations and thefts in the metro and stations—are unhappy with the intervention of the Rome City Council, led by Democratic Party member Gualtieri. "The City Council is censoring the League's posters on the security decree, which, among other things, highlight the new regulations on evictions and muggings in the metro," Matteo Salvini's party denounced in a statement. For the League, "this is a clear case of communist gagging, an attack on democracy, an act of arrogance, an affront to freedom of expression, and an attack on those who work and paid for the posters."

Posters removed from the Capitol

The City Council's intervention was urgent, according to the request sent by the Capitoline Hill to the company responsible for removing the posters, "following reports received from citizens, who pointed to posters bearing the following messages: 'Snatch a bag on the subway? Now you'll end up in jail without excuses,' in which a pickpocket is depicted as a Roma person escorted by a police officer inside a subway car." And again, "'Squatting a house? We'll kick you out in 24 hours,' in which the occupants are identified as a person of color, a Roma person, and an 'alternative' person."

This was enough for the Capitoline Hill to trigger the removal of Salvini's posters, pursuant to Article 12-bis of the Advertising Regulations, which prohibits "the display of advertising whose content is detrimental to respect for individual freedoms, civil and political rights, religious beliefs, ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender identity, physical and mental abilities." This removal sparked a political controversy.

The League's reaction: "Censorship."

For Interior Ministry Undersecretary Nicola Molteni, "what is happening in Rome, with Gualtieri attempting to overshadow the successes of the League and Matteo Salvini, is shameful and unbelievable. It's a full-blown censorship of the security decree's initiatives to punish squatters, pickpockets, and those who block roads without justification." Claudio Durigon, the League's federal deputy secretary, also described it as "full-blown censorship." "Trying to silence political opponents with these underhanded tactics," he emphasized, "is contrary to the democratic principles on which our country is founded." "This is censorship," agreed Davide Bordoni, the League's Lazio regional secretary, in a statement to AdnKronos. "Our city councilors will submit a question, and we have instructed our lawyers to seek possible compensation for damages."

The exchange between the Municipality and the Northern League

The League's attacks received a 'technical' response from the Capitoline Hill: "The League posters were removed because they violate current regulations regarding the ethical content of advertising." Namely, they allegedly display ethnic stereotypes. "This is an act adopted independently by the competent authorities, following complaints from citizens: it is therefore not censorship, but the precise application of current regulations," the City of Rome clarified, noting that it is "obviously possible to file a formal appeal against the decision or continue the advertising campaign, modifying the content to bring it into compliance with the Regulations."

Senator Francesco Verducci, vice president of the Anti-Discrimination Commission at Palazzo Madama, spoke out from the Democratic Party. "The City of Rome is right to apply the Capitoline Hill regulations on this matter and order their removal. Those posters," he concluded, "are a shameful campaign of discrimination."

The League, however, insists: "The Democratic Party is censoring the League's posters on the Security Decree because they contain images produced by AI. In practice, the left is banning both real and artificial images. Anything to hide the truth. Does the Democratic Party defend those who pickpocket, steal, deface, and squat?" "We are facing unprecedented violence: a massive campaign will be launched not only in Rome but throughout Italy, and new posters will be distributed. And special T-shirts are being produced," warns the League .