Occhiuto: cowardly gesture against Iannello, solidarity with Vibo Valentia community
“Shock at the vile intimidation suffered by the president of the Vibo Valentia municipal council, Antonio Iannello, whose car was targeted by gunfire a few days ago as he was returning home. Full solidarity and closeness to him, his family, and the entire city of Vibo Valentia. Acts of this gravity affect not only the person involved, but the entire community and the democratic institutions it represents. The whole of Calabria condemns without hesitation any form of violence, firmly defending the values of legality”. Thus Roberto Occhiuto, president of the Calabria Region.
Mammoliti: astonished and dismayed
The vile and alarming act of intimidation that targeted the President of the Council of Vibo Valentia Antonio Iannello leaves us astonished and dismayed. A violent attack of unprecedented gravity on a political/institutional personality who has made transparency and administrative correctness a paradigmatic figure of constant and coherent commitment. An always available, attentive and scrupulous person who works daily towards the common good without ever giving in to compromises”. This was stated in a note by Raffaele Mammoliti, former regional councilor and member of the PD national management.
“The attack on the President represents an attack on the Institutions. There is a need – according to Mammoliti – for a collective reaction to curb a wave of criminal resurgence that is trying to raise its head again despite the commendable work of the Police Force and the Judiciary, which we are convinced will be able to guarantee, as among other things they are already doing, the protection of the territory and the security towards the President and the entire community. I express to Antonio and his family my sincere and affectionate solidarity and we will take action at various levels to undertake every useful action and initiative to defend legality: the only way to guarantee democratic stability, civil growth and productive development in our territory and in Calabria”.
Mangialavori: cowardly gesture
The president of the Chamber’s Budget Commission, Giuseppe Mangialavori, expressed “full solidarity with Antonio Iannello for the serious act of intimidation of which he was the victim. A cowardly and unacceptable gesture which affects a man of the institutions who is esteemed and has always been committed to seriousness and correctness. Attacking those who represent the institutions means attacking the entire democratic community. I trust in the work of the police to shed full light on what happened and restore serenity to Iannello and his family”.
The provincial coordinator of Forza Italia, Michele Comito, and the city coordinator, Carmen Corrado, also expressed the “firmest condemnation for the serious act of intimidation suffered by the president of the municipal council of Vibo Valentia, Antonio Iannello, and we extend our full solidarity and closeness to him. A cowardly gesture that strikes a man of the institutions and that offends the entire Vibo Valentia community. At a time when it is essential to strengthen trust in democratic institutions and values, episodes like this cannot be tolerated nor underestimated. We are certain that the police will shed full light on what happened and we reiterate our commitment, as political representatives of the territory, to defend legality and mutual respect with determination.”
Polimeni: phenomenon is an open wound
Even the president of the anti ‘Ndrangheta commission of Palazzo Campanella, Marco Polimeni, expressed solidarity towards Antonio Iannello: «The intimidation received by Antonio Iannello, president of the Vibo Valentia municipal council, cannot help but raise the attention of the institutions towards a phenomenon, that of threats to administrators, which unfortunately remains one of the open wounds of our region. Addressing my solidarity to Iannello, to whom I send a warm hug while waiting to personally go to Vibo in the next few days, I assure you that the commission that I have the honor and burden of chairing will do everything possible to ensure him the widest support. As guide of the regional commission, it is my intention to evaluate the introduction of forms of concrete support towards administrators and professionals threatened by crime. As for the shocking episode suffered just before Christmas by Antonio Iannello, I am sure that the police will soon identify the perpetrators and instigators of an affair which, by pure chance, did not turn into a real tragedy.”
CGIL: threatening message
The CGIL Area Vasta Catanzaro-Crotone-Vibo expresses its solidarity with the president of the Vibo Valentia municipal council, Antonio Iannello, and his family, affected by an act of intimidation “of extreme gravity which cannot be archived as an isolated episode or relegated to judicial news”. Five gunshots fired at a garage and a car, a few days before Christmas, as a person returns home, are not just a threatening message addressed to a single administrator. They are a disturbing signal that concerns the entire city and that recalls seasons that Vibo Valentia and all of Calabria thought, and hoped, they had left behind.
«We are not faced with just any gesture – underlines the general secretary of the CGIL Area Vasta, Enzo Scalese – but with a fact that strikes the heart of democratic institutions and the serenity of people. When you shoot at the house of an elected representative, you are attempting to intimidate a public function and, at the same time, influence the civil life of a community. Faced with episodes of this nature, a collective, clear-headed and responsible reaction is needed. We need to forcefully state that no one can be left alone and that the response cannot be limited to the action, albeit fundamental, of the police and the judiciary. Security – continues Scalese – is not just an issue of public order. It is also, and first of all, a social, cultural and democratic issue. Where fear and silence take root, participation, discussion and trust in institutions weaken. For this reason, it is essential that all the healthy forces of the city, from politics to the world of work, from associations to citizens, make a strong and visible presence felt.”
The CGIL Area Vasta reiterates its commitment to «stand on the side of those who, in institutions and in society, choose to operate in compliance with the rules and collective interest. At the same time, he invites us not to underestimate the context: countering any form of intimidation also means investing in quality work, rights, social cohesion, administrative transparency. It is in these lands that the most effective antibodies against violence and arrogance are built. Defending democracy today also means choosing not to lower our gaze and transforming indignation into concrete, daily, shared commitment”, concludes Scalese.
Irto (PD): democracy hit
“The serious act of intimidation that occurred in Vibo Valentia with shots fired at the car and home of the president of the city council, Antonio Iannello, is unacceptable.” The Calabria Democratic Party, led by Senator Nicola Irto, declared this in a note. “We express full solidarity with Iannello and his family – continues the Calabria PD – and we trust in the work of the police and the judiciary to shed light on what happened quickly. Hitting a representative of the institutions means hitting democracy. Calabria cannot and must not retreat on the grounds of legality, security and – concludes the note from the Calabria PD – respect for the rules”.
Bosco: unacceptable episode
The President of the Catanzaro City Council, Gianmichele Bosco, expresses the firmest solidarity and sincere closeness to Antonio Iannello, President of the Vibo Valentia City Council, for the serious act of intimidation suffered in recent days. “This is a disturbing and unacceptable episode – declares Bosco – which affects not only one person, but the entire democratic community and the institutions that operate daily at the service of citizens. Acts of this kind cannot and must not find space in a civil society founded on respect for the rules and participation democratic”https://catanzaro.gazzettadelsud.it/articoli/politica/2026/01/06/agguato-al-presidente-del-consiglio-comunale-di-vibo-antonio-iannello-solidarieta-bipartisan-della-politica-54b3c80f-a30a-4dc8-8adb-cd1f12f1cf8e/.”Ad Antonio Iannello – continues – goes to my personal support and that of the entire Catanzaro City Council, with the hope that the investigations will shed full light on the incident and bring those responsible to justice. The institutions – concludes Bosco – must continue to be united and determined in rejecting every form of intimidation, strongly reaffirming the values of legality, transparency and freedom of political and administrative action. Also in this sense, we will not fail to reiterate the need to carry out joint action with the presidents of the municipal councils of the five capital cities, in the wake of the path started last year”.
Tucci (M5s): shameful gesture
The deputy of the 5 Star Movement, Riccardo Tucci, expressed, in a note, “closeness and solidarity with the engineer Antonio Iannello, president of the Vibo Valentia municipal council, the recipient of vile intimidation in recent days. People, currently unknown, fired five gun shots at his house and his car. The news only became known this morning. I hope the investigators can soon give a face and a name to the unknown attackers who were guilty of this shameful gesture. I urge President Iannello not to give up and to continue his meritorious administrative work in favor of the people of Vibo”.