The Five Star Movement does not seem to be in favor of the Single City. Or at least in the form and, above all, in the ways in which it has been proposed both by the center-right majority and by the Democratic Party. We talk about it with Anna Laura Orrico parliamentarian and former undersecretary of state.
What is your and the movement’s position on the single city?
“The M5S is historically oriented towards the optimization of public spending as often happens for the union of small municipalities but, apart from the fact that this is not the case, we are very concerned about this law on the “single city” wanted by the center-right because it ignores participation. We are against the method because the measure was imposed from above, passed within an omnibus law and supported, among other things, by a feasibility study devoid of concreteness. Furthermore, the proposed referendum is only consultative and the law does not provide for the possibility, for the respective municipal councils, to express themselves with a specific resolution as happened, for example, in the merger of the municipalities of Corigliano and Rossano”.
Why doesn’t the referendum convince you?
“Referendums convince us: think about the one we are working hard on to repeal the law on differentiated autonomy. Except that this one on the “single city” is a fake consultation because it is not binding, therefore citizens will be fooled again by a policy that is afraid to confront and build paths of real democracy. Furthermore, it is misleading because the second of the two questions influences the first since it asks what name the “single city” should have regardless of the result of the referendum consultation. How can you decide the fate of three communities like Cosenza, Rende and Castrolibero without considering the will of the citizens who live those realities every day as binding? It would be an act of political and institutional arrogance.”
