The predictable resignation of Mayor Federico Basile now gives the ball rolling for the May administrative elections. Obviously, there was no shortage of reactions to this morning’s announcement. Among the most critical voices is that of Marcello Scurria, exponent of Rete Civica PARTICIPAZIONE and one of Basile’s most likely competitors at the polls, who does not mince words to define the mayor’s farewell as an act of pure personal and group strategy, far from the interests of the community.
According to Scurria, what the city witnessed was not an act of responsibility, but a “staging” orchestrated far from Palazzo Zanca. “In the absence of the political instigator”, attacks Scurria, “the executor recited the script written by his boss, painting a city seen from the palace and distant from reality”. The reference to Cateno De Luca’s leadership is evident: for Rete Civica, Basile would have done nothing but follow predetermined instructions, transforming the role of mayor into that of a simple “executor”.
Scurria’s judgment on the reasons given for the resignation is trenchant: an insult to the intelligence of the people of Messina behind which arrogance and disinterest in the common good is hidden. The main accusation is that of having “bent” Messina to the interests of a power group that would use the city as a springboard for other political purposes. “Irresponsibility and contempt. Only one objective: to use Messina for the boss’s political purposes.”
In this scenario, the resignation move appears to many as an attempt to anticipate an already latent crisis. The fear, Scurria suggests, is that the consensus around the junta was crumbling, pushing the leaders of the movement to “escape from responsibility” before the final collapse.
Scurria thus invites us to reflect deeply: “Meditate, Messina, Meditate”. For Rete Civica, – therefore – this moment of rupture must not be seen only as a crisis, but as an unrepeatable opportunity to turn the page: “Now we can change”.
In a joint note the regional secretariats of Fratelli d’Italia, Forza Italia, Lega per Salvini premier, Grande Sicilia – Mpa, Noi Moderati and Democracy Christian further comment: “The unexpected and absurd resignation of the mayor of Messina Federico Basile is motivated only by a political whim of the mayor of Taormina Cateno De Luca, and of the wishes of the latter. Behind this choice to abdicate one’s responsibilities towards the City there is Cateno De Luca with his pseudo political strategy. It is absurd to think of a new commissioner phase for Messina in the immediate aftermath of an emergency like that of Cyclone Harry, moreover Basile’s resignation will also leave empty the presidency of the metropolitan city which plays a fundamental role in the management of the reconstruction phase in the entire range of Ionian municipalities. We are faced with a “coup de théâtre” of which someone must take on the responsibility before the citizens of Messina of today’s decision and as the centre-right we are ready to respond united with an authoritative candidacy for the leadership of the city of Messina”
Elvira Amata: “Irresponsible choice, Messina and the Metropolitan City deserve stability”
“The resignation announced by the mayor of Messina, who chooses the path of early termination of the mandate for the mere calculation of political expediency, represents a choice that goes beyond the normal dialectic and raises serious doubts about the institutional responsibility towards the citizens. The city of Messina is not a playing field to be exploited for contingent political strategies. the people of Messina deserve continuity, commitment and coherence, elements which Basile as well as his predecessor evidently ignore”. This was stated by the former regional councilor for Tourism, Elvira Amata.
“Leaving the leadership of the city without the right motivation to immediately run for early elections, bringing in a commissioner who will manage the ordinary administration for 90 days, means – according to Elvira Amata – depriving the community of responsible leadership at times when security, services and urban development require stability and vision.
Furthermore, it should not be forgotten that the mayor of Messina also holds the top role of the Metropolitan City, a fundamental body for the coordination of services and interventions that concern the entire provincial territory at a time when rapid planning and decisions are necessary. Even more so in light of the critical issues that emerged during the recent emergency linked to Cyclone Harry, which put territorial management and the ability to guarantee timeliness, safety and essential services to the test: in moments like these, the priority should be governing and protecting citizens, not opening an electoral campaign”.. Abruptly interrupting this union means exposing dozens of municipalities and thousands of citizens to a phase of uncertainty and administrative slowdown,
Again according to Elvira Amata “the role of those who govern cannot be limited to the simple search for consensus or the “game of seats”: they must look at the city in a serious and responsible way, with a clear project for the coming years. The united center-right has what it takes to govern this city in the best possible way. Messina deserves respect, seriousness and transparency, not dramatic coups useful only to unleash further tensions and uncertainties”, so in a note the Hon. Elvira Amata regional councilor for tourism, sport and entertainment”.