The Draghi government changes the rules for the duration of top positions in the Defense and intelligence sector. In the draft of the text of the bill converting the Milleproroghe decree law dismissed yesterday by the Council of Ministers are paragraphs 18 and 19 of article 1, “Extension of terms in the field of public administrations”. Without these rules in two cases – the commander general of the Guardia di Finanza, Giuseppe Zafarana, and the director of Aisi (information and internal security agency), prefect Mario Parente – next year there would have been their term of office and the need newly appointed.
The deadline jam
Giuseppe Zafarana was born on 2 May 1963 and has led the Fiamme Gialle since 25 May 2019. Thus his three-year term expires on 25 May 2022 when he has just turned 59. By law he should retire and the government will appoint his successor a few months after the dissolution of parliament. Mario Parente, director of Aisi, would expire in May 2022: in this case, the intelligence legislation applies and without changes Parente should leave one year before retirement age, having however already reached the maximum number of renewal posts. Also in this case the government should make an appointment of absolute institutional importance close to the political elections.
Continuity and institutional certainties
Senior management appointments at this level presuppose trusting relationships and full alignment between policy and operational implementation. This applies to information and security services, in particular, but also to the armed and police forces. Then there is the age factor: it seems at least strange to retire a senior officer at the end of his senior mandate when he has reached the age of 59. In theory it also happens, for example, to the Chief of Staff of the Navy, Enrico Credendino, who was appointed on 6 November last. It will end in three years when he is, however, 61 years and nine months old. But the military retires at 63.
The norm for those who wear stars
The age limit of 63 becomes 65 if the uniform is of a carabiniere or a financier. The provision envisaged by the decree reads as follows: military leaders after having completed the three-year appointment “if not reached the age limit at the end of the three-year period, they remain in office up to the age limit and in any case for a maximum of another year” . The calculations are thus quickly made. The Commander General Gdf will be able to remain in office for another year. Ditto the Chief of Staff of the Navy, born in 1963, the nomination period ends on November 6, 2024. The problem can repeat itself with any other appointed officer when the age is not close to retiring.
The Aeronautics and Carabinieri cases
Luca Goretti, air squad general, has been the Air Force Chief of Staff since 28 October. The three-year period will end on the same date of 2024: he will be just over 62 years old, he was born on May 15, 1962. Teo Luzi, commander general of the Arma, is also part of the new legislation: he should leave after three years of leadership on January 16, 2024 However, he was born on November 14, 1959 and in 2024 he is 65 years old: from January to November he could have a small extension. The principle of the rule is to be able to have a continuation of the assignment for a maximum of one year and in any case by the retirement date.