The president of the Sicilian Region, Renato Schifani, intervenes decisively on the political debate that is animating Forza Italia and the centre-right. On the sidelines of a meeting at the Palermo Chamber of Commerce, the Governor addressed the hot issues of the moment: the management of the party, his possible re-nomination and the state of health of regional finances.
Regarding the internal push for an acceleration of turnover in the party, Schifani – who also holds the role of president of the national council of FI – chooses the path of balance, recalling the Founder’s doctrine: “Silvio Berlusconi has always spoken of renewal without, of course, dismissing those who had spent the best of themselves in Forza Italia. I think we will go in this direction.”
The President underlined that he is following the debate “at a distance”, giving absolute priority to the administrative mandate received from the centre-right coalition.
Schifani then clearly responded to questions about his second mandate, evoking the political practice of the coalition. According to the Governor, in the center-right the rule of natural renewal is in force to complete the government program in ten years. Analyzing the precedents, Schifani explained that the exceptions (such as Molise and Sardinia) were dictated by specific contingencies or judicial events that do not concern the current Sicilian management.
The pillar of his communication strategy, however, remains the concreteness of the numbers. Schifani announced a historic result for the regional coffers: a presumed surplus of 5 billion and 300 million euros, a figure never reached before.
The challenge now is strategic planning to spend these resources efficiently. In pole position for waste-to-energy plants: the new projects will be ready within a month through Invitalia, with the aim of starting construction sites by the end of the legislature. Also arriving are the tenders for the spa and the tax relief measures and hiring incentives envisaged by the latest budget.
Although the Governor reiterates that he is the expression of a coalition (“I don’t decide alone”), the message to the allies is clear: the restored accounts and the activated growth system are, in his opinion, the best business card to guarantee administrative continuity. “I think the numbers speak for themselves.”
«If isolating yourself means working silently but effectively and bringing the results we are bringing, isolation is welcome. I’m not a catwalk man, anyone who knows me knows that I’m at the Palazzo where I work. And I move around the territory – added the governor – when I believe it is useful in the interests of Sicilians and good governance” he explained.
And, finally, he added: «I asked the group leaders at the Ars to see us and I believe that I will transform this meeting on Tuesday into a systemic meeting because it is right to discuss the agenda of the work» underlining that «the dialogue with the regional secretaries of the party is constant and continuous».
«Last week – the governor recalled – I was in the chamber when the consolidated bill was to be voted on, my presence was right. Sometimes it cannot be guaranteed because I am in Rome for institutional commitments, where I meet ministers, presidents of state companies in the interest of Sicily. Having said this, I am convinced that the majority has always given the best of itself in particular moments, and is then naturally called upon with me to share what will be the dynamics of using this large management surplus, which are a great bet in the interest of the Sicilian people, a bet that the center-right will certainly not lose.”