Nine days after the referendum on December 1st, the discussion on the possible merger between Cosenza, Rende and Castrolibero is becoming increasingly heated. The proposal of a single metropolitan city, with one total population of approximately 110,000 inhabitantsdivides politicians, citizens and local committees, in a campaign that alternates hopes of development and fears of centralization.
The entire centre-right, with the parliamentarians Simona Loizzo, Mario Occhiuto, Alfredo Antoniozzi and Fausto Orsomarso, and the regional councilors Pierluigi Caputo, Luciana De Francesco is pushing for yeshighlighting the opportunities of a larger, more competitive city. Part of the centre-left also supports the initiative, highlighting how a merger could guarantee greater authority and political weight to the urban area. And just a few days ago the mayor, Franz Caruso, expressed his convinced yes in a press conference. On the other hand, the no to Rende committees and the mayor of Castrolibero maintain a critical position, fearing that the union could result in an imbalance in services and political representation. Doubts emerge above all from the Rende area, where the opposition has mobilized to convince citizens to reject the project. In this climate of conflict which risks confusing citizens, the decision appears increasingly complex.
