«These are elections that concern seventy-one municipalities in the metropolitan area of Reggio Calabria, but they are also elections that concern the country, because it is inevitable that what is happening in Reggio is the dress rehearsal of what can happen in the country. This is just the appetizer.” This was said by the leader of the Democratic Party in the Senate, Francesco Boccia, on the sidelines of an electoral meeting in Reggio Calabria, in support of the centre-left unitary candidate in the Chamber by-elections on 27 and 28 September.
Voting takes place in the single-member constituency 05 of Reggio Calabria, which remained free after the election of Francesco Cannizzaro, Forza Italia deputy, as mayor of the city. There are four candidates: Frank Benedetto for the progressive coalition, which brings together the Democratic Party, the 5 Star Movement, the Reformist House, the Green Left Alliance and the Communist Refoundation; Fabio Roscioli, treasurer of Forza Italia, for the center-right with Fratelli d’Italia, Forza Italia, Lega, Noi Moderati and Udc; Domenico Giannetta, former group leader of Forza Italia in the regional council, for Roberto Vannacci’s Futuro Nazionale; Francesco Toscano for Sovereign Popular Democracy.
«Reggio must decide, not the national parties»
«We – he added – remain strongly anchored to the idea that Reggio should decide. National parties should not decide. While Reggio, through Frank Benedetto, sends its voice to Rome, the right has decided to send the treasurer of Forza Italia to Reggio.”
«Benedetto’s candidacy – said Boccia – for me is an example of what we want Calabria to express in Rome. Then Frank will decide how to represent Calabria, the expression of a united center-left. We need free voices in the south. The free voices in the South have changed a part of the South for the better, I am thinking above all of Naples and Bari; Reggio is no different from Naples and Bari. It can express a lot and we hope that Frank Benedetto, deputy of the Republic representing this land, can allow the leap in quality.”
The thrust on the maneuver: «Propaganda on car tax»
«After four budget laws we would have hoped to discuss healthcare, local public transport, school principals, strengthening our universities, but instead we discuss what? Propaganda with the temporary cancellation of car tax for 2027 and for a quota of people. Nobody likes paying taxes. But then we need resources to finance health services”, said the dem group leader.
«Now – he added – I ask Roberto Occhiuto from here: did you know something? Antonio De Caro in Puglia knew nothing, Eugenio Giani in Tuscany knew nothing, Roberto Fico in Campania knew nothing. Meloni decided to take 2.3 billion from the regions that are needed for healthcare, transport and assistance and told some Italians that he wanted to give a gift. Is Occhiuto calm? In his place I wouldn’t be.”
«The right has failed», and the test of Vannacci’s movement
«Giorgia Meloni has been governing the country for four years – said the Democratic representative. Wages have fallen. Fuel prices are skyrocketing, energy costs more and more both in homes and businesses. The results are there for all to see. Even when they claim increased employment, I remind them that poor employment isn’t good for the country, it isn’t even good for those who get it, because if you then spend your time working, and from the third week you can’t even do the shopping, there is an insult that increases social conflict. This is why the right has failed.”
«It produced – concludes Boccia – the very radicalization of the right and for this reason Roberto Vannacci’s movement was born. Paradoxically, by irony of fate or by a conjuncture of history, Reggio Calabria finds itself being the first Italian test of this terrible story which we hope will end as soon as possible, hoping to return to political voting soon. The better it will be for the country.”
The candidacy of Futuro Nazionale
On the candidacy of the former group leader of Forza Italia for the Region with Roberto Vannacci’s National Future, Boccia speaks of “the other right that divides itself from the traditional center-right by trying to carry out a power operation that has nothing to do with what is needed in Reggio Calabria”.
«This city, this territory – he added – needs to put our heart into it and there is no person who is better able than Frank Benedetto to explain what the heart, strength and energy of this city is for because Calabria needs to be represented in the national parliament by free people who defend Calabria. Instead, we have come from four years in which some centre-right representatives had to bow their heads in front of political exchanges; I think of the autonomy against which we are resolutely aligned. We have seen elected officials in the South, within the right, who simply obeyed, based on political exchanges made by party leaders. Today Reggio Calabria has the possibility of sending one of the most authoritative personalities of this land and we are united, we are at the service of Frank Benedetto and not vice versa”.