The political clash on the bridge over the Strait of Messina continues after the findings of the Court of Auditors. The CGIL asked the government to stop the process of the work, raising doubts about the legitimacy and opportunity of the procedures started “with excessive haste” for the opening of the construction sites.
“We reiterate that the government should withdraw the project of the bridge over the Strait after the substantial findings of the Court of Auditors on the approval procedures pursued with the utmost urgency – said the confederal secretary of the CGIL Pino Gesmundo -. For this reason we wrote to the vice -president of the European Commission, Stéphane Séjourré, asking him for a meeting and verification of full compliance with the public procurement directive, considering that a contract has been reactivated over twenty years ago with an increase in price greater than 300%”.
The union manager recalled that “this preventive verification had already been suggested to the government from Anac a few months ago”. Gesmundo called the choice of the executive to allocate huge resources “irresponsible” to a project “which exposes the country to the risk of irregularities and waste, while funds would be used to complete the infrastructures necessary in the South and support companies in the construction sector”.
In his speech, the confederal secretary has also recalled the recent silos report of the Chamber of Deputies, which reports that for strategic works in Calabria and Sicily they lack a total of 18 billion euros, of which over eight destined for the railway sector and ten on roads and highways. “A political and technical commitment is needed to carry out the works already started – concluded Gesmundo – many of which record worrying slowdowns, while companies struggle to find specialized labor”.
The League replied to the words of the CGIL, which in a note spoke of “madness” by the union. “That the CGIL tries to intimidate the European Commission, which has inserted the bridge in the Scandinavo-Mediterranean corridor, and which says no to tens of thousands of jobs for workers, technicians and engineers, it is madness-reads the note-. On the other hand, we do not expect anything proactive from Landini, given the barricades of the last few weeks ».
Finally, Matteo Salvini’s party recalled how, according to the League, “the best response came from Calabrian citizens with Sunday’s vote, who rewarded the center -right and the bridge project: in Reggio Calabria the League is the second party with an incredible 15%”.