Old oaks do not fall. Frank Pichierriformer municipal and provincial councilor, leading figure of the CCD and, today, responsible for the urban area of “We Moderates” he is a “political animal”. He sniffs the wind, reads the prospects of change, anticipates (when he can) the paths. A few days ago his party, led by former minister Maurizio Lupi, appointed him political manager of the urban area with particular reference to the merger between Cosenza, Rende and Castrolibero.
The issue is burning because it sees the center-right substantially united and the center-left, on the contrary, deeply divided: on one side the regional PD, on the other the Bruzi city councilors, the mayor Caruso, the entire Five Star Movement. The sense of the fracture will be offered by the consultative referendum and by the commitment that each of the parties involved (in favor and against) will put in to mobilize the electorate.
A contrary majority would undermine the implementation of the Law approved by the regional council on July 26; a favorable outcome, however, would pave the way for the birth of the new Municipality that would have a population of more than 100,000 inhabitants, a shared public transport service, three historic centers in a network, a stadium for important events, a university campus that is the envy of Italy and, finally, a modern hospital. We can therefore only ask Pichierri questions on the thorny issue of the Single City. For his party, he will have to deal with the issue.
You have been given a significant role by your party that will fully immerse you in the debate on the birth of the great capital city: what are your thoughts?
“I believe the task entrusted to me is important both for the political and administrative future of our district and of the entire province. As a candidate for mayor in the last elections for the renewal of the municipal council of Cosenza (September 2021), in the drafting and presentation of the administrative program accompanying the candidacy, I proposed the need to redeem our provincial capital through a new political and institutional vision compared to the past, a choice that would restore dignity and institutional prestige to the Bruzia city. An objective that can certainly be achieved today with the merger of Cosenza-Rende-Castrolibero, a project strongly shared by Noi Moderati”.
So the position of your entire party is one of support for the merger project?
“Of course, the provincial leadership of the party unanimously decided to support the next referendum, inviting voters to express a vote in favor of the birth of the single city. This is based on the assumption that it is not possible to leave our capital in the current conditions of total marginalization, of institutional and political inconsistency with respect to the Province and our Region.”