Export of cultural goods: there is an appeal to Mattarella to stop the reform

Stop the reform of the export of cultural goods: this is what a group of intellectuals (Gaetano Azzariti, Paolo Berdini, Lorenza Carlassare, Alberto Lucarelli, Paolo Maddalena, Claudia Mannino, Tomaso Montanari, Salvatore Settis), signatories of an appeal addressed to the head of state, who is asked not to sign the ddl concorrenza, which contains the reform, asks the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella.

“With the approval of the annual law for the market and competition (art. 1, paragraphs 175 and 176), which took place on August 2, 2017,” the text of the appeal reads, “Parliament not only confirms today that it does not take into any consideration the aforementioned limit of social utility by favoring the utility of art dealers, but, by lowering the limits of protection and making our cultural goods more exportable abroad, it even comes to undermine the very structure of our national community (Art. 1 Const.), of which artistic and historical heritage is an integral part (Art. 9 Const.).” The reform, according to the petitioners, would entail “an unacceptable weakening of the protection of artistic and historical heritage and an invitation to those who own cultural assets to export them, impoverishing our artistic and historical heritage,” as well as “A real rape of the Constitution to the detriment of the interests of the Italian People, from whom cultural assets of great importance and value, which should have remained on our territory to attract that international art market that is now encouraged to flourish only outside our borders, are being unjustifiably taken away.”

It seems highly unlikely, however, that the President of the Republic will refuse to sign the bill. And should the bill become law for all intents and purposes, those opposed to the reform will have no choice but to turn to the Constitutional Court.

Image: the Quirinal, Credit

Export of cultural goods: there is an appeal to Mattarella to stop the reform

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