The 2007 law on our Secret Services has been modified with the emergency decree on the pandemic. Corriere della Sera reports that "changing four little words"The government has guaranteed the top of Italian intelligence the possibility of renewing the post for another four years.
It is not understood why to change the duration of these assignments but we only know that this novelty was included in the decree published on 30 July last, the one that extends the state of emergency for the coronavirus epidemic until next 15 October.
Confusion was recorded by the opposition, such as the expressed disbelief on the part of some members of CoPasir (Parliamentary Committee for the Security of the Republic), who claim that they have not been consulted on the delicate matter.
Law 124 of 2007 regulates the "Information system for the security of the Republic and new discipline of secrecy " and regarding the appointments of the directors of the Services, established that - the general direction of the Dis is entrusted to a first level or equivalent manager of the State administration, whose appointment and revocation are the exclusive responsibility of the President of the Council of Ministers, after consulting the Cisr. However, the assignment has a maximum duration of four years and is renewable for one time only ".
The reason for the change that can be read in the decree: "In order to ensure, also in the context of the current state of epidemiological emergency from Covid-19, full continuity in the operational management of the Information System for the security of the Republic, pursuant to law no. 3, the following modifications are made: the words “for one time only” are replaced by the following; "With subsequent measures for a maximum total duration of a further four years".
In this way the director of the Dis of the AISI and Aise will be able to obtain the renewal of the assignment and remain for another four years.
Apparently, before inserting the new rule, the Cisr - Interministerial Security Committee of the Republic - was also heard, a body composed of the ministers of Defense, Interior, Economy, Justice and Economic Development. However, the contents of the meeting are not known.
Concerns remain over the decision to extend the professional life of the heads of our security agencies. Faced with the secretion of the acts of the Technical Scientific Committee and the extension of the top management, we read the Government's will to anchor the "status quo", in the face of the foreseeable social unrest announced for next autumn.