“With regard to the hypothesized conflict of interest between the office of Minister Crosetto and his previous functions as president of Aiad, the subject of recent television broadcasts and press articles, the Ministry of Defense stresses that in mind of articles 2 and 3 of law n.215 of 2004 and of the political-administrative functions attributed to the minister by articles 4 and 14 of legislative decree n.165 of 2001 and from 10 to 13 of the code of the military system, is not recognized on a technical level- legal any hypothesis of conflict of interest or incompatibility “. This was stated by the Ministry of Defense in a note. “In fact, by express provision of the law, even any situations of conflict prior to the taking up of the office do not assume any significance as they ceased at the time of taking up the office. No status of incompatibility – continues the note – or conflict of interests is legally conceivable when the minister no longer has offices, corporate properties or personal assets that in any way can enter into a relationship with the activities of the Ministry of Defense. Moreover, the Minister of Defense does not participate in any case in the adoption of acts capable of affecting his assets or that of his spouse or relatives, as they are completely devoid of negotiating powers and functions. In the arms procurement sector, in accordance with Article 26 of the aforementioned code, it is the Head of State defense major that defines the operational requirements of the weapon systems to be procured e [ex articolo 41 del medesimo codice] the Secretary General of Defense who initiates research activities of a technological and industrial nature and who presides over the acquisition procedures through the competent technical departments “.” Nevertheless, in his previous role as president of Aiad, due to the nature of the industrial sectors represented, clear national strategic interest, the current minister has pursued objectives that are completely convergent with the public ones, strengthening the capacities of companies and the consequent international competitiveness through the promotion of the Italian defense industry abroad. Finally, the Ministry of Defense has never held or holds any shareholdings in the reference industrial groups. – concludes the note – In any case, the Defense will be responsible for transmitting the declarations on the non-existence of situations of conflict envisaged by article 5 of law 215 of 2004, confirming that in this case there are no reasons for non-transferability or incompatibility “.
