Healthcare, young people, infrastructure. These are some of the issues on which Frank Benedetto’s candidacy in the Reggio Calabria by-elections is based. The centre-left candidate, a cardiologist, presented his candidacy today in the room of a city hotel packed with members, supporters, local representatives of the parties and movements that support him. In fact, alongside Benedetto, there are 12 party symbols all attributable to the so-called wide field.
At stake on 27 and 28 September is the seat in the Chamber of Deputies vacated by the former Forza Italia parliamentarian, Francesco Cannizzaro, elected mayor of Reggio Calabria. «Frank Benedetto is an important figure, an esteemed, credible professional, around whom a united center-left is aligned», stated the regional secretary of the Democratic Party, Nicola Irto, on the sidelines of the event. “We do not want to repeat – he underlined – the mistakes of the past, of a division between us which allowed, in 2022, the right to come to government, destroying Calabria and Italy”.
Benedetto, taking the floor, indicated three macro-themes, including healthcare, with a particular focus on community homes which «were designed to try to give a first intervention to the citizen. Some have been built, but they have no health workers, doctors or staff to manage them, they are practically non-functional.” «I don’t have the presumption of presenting programs – explained Benedetto – but I want to focus attention on things that can be done immediately. In the meantime, be the voice of the people within Parliament to try to encourage debate on those issues which, in my opinion, are a little neglected. Together with healthcare, the issue of young people and infrastructure.” Benedetto added that he felt proud to have been presented by twelve lists that group together the entire broad field.