Administrative elections in Reggio Calabria: after the last fires the word goes to the polls

Domenico Battaglia is aiming for the transition from “acting” to actual mayor, who with his program called “Reggio with solid roots in the center of the Mediterranean” aims to carry forward the political-administrative line of Giuseppe Falcomatà and the center-left majority that governed the city for 12 years. He closed the electoral campaign last night in Piazza Duomo with all the candidates with a clear message: «Reggio will be able to play its new phase starting from the solid foundations that have been created in recent years. Budgets have been restored, the idea of ​​a credible city in front of government policy has been strengthened and now we can look to the future. Let’s imagine a city that has suffered a lot, has started walking again but can now run.” In the last appeal to vote, Battaglia wanted to remember what is contained in the program: to make young people stay and focus everything on the link between the University and the world of work. So the conclusions: «It was a compelling electoral campaign (some passages were, however, criticized, some low blows from the opponents, note) and above all beautiful because I faced it as mayor. And as mayor I want to resume administration with the whole team.”

Francesco Cannizzaro took to the field personally after having to suffer a bitter defeat for his coalition in the last electoral round, convinced that it would gain full spoils. To “liberate” the city from the left”, the deputy measures himself directly against his people, the one who has already given him so much joy, most recently the seat in the Chamber. Passionate rallies, crowds, electoral campaign in perfect Cannizzaro style: scenic, engaging, with 90 pieces from the parties all present, with the President of the Region at the forefront. The centre-right candidate knows that the challenge is fierce and last night from the stage in Piazza De Nava he recalled his line: the need for a change of direction, a renewal, a political and administrative turning point. “We – he said – talk about the future of this city that we must give to every single citizen”. Cannizzaro feels like mayor in pectore: “In the first 100 days I will dedicate myself to the team and that is to say those who have fallen in love with this project, including the municipality’s employees we aim for the result, the objective obtained in the field because only in this way can we give answers to the citizens. We will give vision and direction: but also and above all the house within the houses”.

Starting again from essential services in order to make the most of the city’s potential: from these bases began the path of Eduardo Lamberti Castronuovo, who was the first to launch his project to administer Reggio after Falcomatà. A civic path that started and took root more than a year ago, but which failed to attract many civic forces as Lamberti himself admitted. His program is ambitious but at the same time simple, because it aims entirely at re-establishing from the foundations a city that needs to normalize. He made a different, almost anomalous choice at the end of the electoral campaign. No rallies, no square but just a summary of his commitment made over several years to make the city grow, starting from his point of reference: the health center which has become a diagnosis and treatment center for many users, but also his commitment to reviving culture. The two lists of the civic center focus on this: on its strong man who, from his history of personal commitment, intends to give Reggio a different imprint.