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Forza Italia and the centre-right “reclaim” Piazza Duomo in Reggio Calabria twenty-four hours after the incursion of General Vannacci who, in the heart of the city led by Forza Italia, launched the challenge of National Future with the candidate Domenico Giannetta in the by-elections. Leading the “reconquest”, on the new stage set up for the final rally of the electoral campaign, is the mayor of Reggio Calabria, Francesco Cannizzaro, together with the centre-right candidate Fabio Roscioli.
Roscioli: «Parliament is in Rome»
“Are we loaded?” Roscioli asks, taking the floor, arousing the enthusiasm of the square. “You do me a great honor and you do your city an honor with this political passion and presence,” he says, denying the “untrue things” told by his opponents about his candidacy and retracing the stages of this decision-making process shared with Cannizzaro. “I am Roman, certainly, but Parliament is in Rome and I don’t see why I can’t do what Cannizzaro did in Parliament”, observed Roscioli. «I am here to carry forward those projects that are part of Cannizzaro’s political vision to help the territory», he specified.
The mayor, with the president of the Calabria region and national deputy secretary of Forza Italia, Roberto Occhiuto, has always claimed Roscioli’s choice during the electoral campaign, underlining how the vote for the treasurer of Forza Italia represents first and foremost a vote “for the united centre-right”. Not only that, because «those who vote for Fabio Roscioli vote for mayor Cannizzaro», he highlighted, speaking of «a vote of confidence in my person and my team».
Occhiuto: Reggio’s vote as a “compass”
The polls of 27 and 28 September now appear, with all the caution and limitations of a local consultation, like a national laboratory where forces can be weighed and coalition balances tested. «I believe that the center-right is in a position to win the elections, especially if it remains distinct from the populist right of Futuro Nazionale. We will try to demonstrate this with the by-elections in Reggio Calabria to make the result in Reggio an example, a compass, also for the national centre-right on alliances”, observes Occhiuto speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a conference at the regional Citadel of Catanzaro.
“It seems that way to me,” Occhiuto replies when asked if the impression is that of a challenge on Vannacci’s part more to the centre-right and Forza Italia than to the centre-left. However, he analyses, «politics is one thing, arithmetic is another. Vannacci may also have an important result but it is not a given that the centre-right will win with Vannacci, perhaps it will become even more competitive if it strengthens the more reformist, more liberal part.”
Benedetto closes at the Odeon
Frank Benedetto, a centre-left candidate supported by a very large field which, in addition to the Democratic Party and the Five Star Movement, includes, among others, the Avs, the Reformist House and the Socialist Party, is preparing to conclude his electoral campaign on Friday 25 September at the Odeon cinema.