“I am not against differentiated autonomy, also because I took autonomy in my Region from current legislation, for example by taking Cuban doctors and bringing Uber to Calabria. I am not against autonomy and I am not scared of competition between the Regions. But this competition must be done on equal terms, after having financed the Leps and after exceeding the historical expense. It is not possible to compete if someone drives a Ferrari and someone else is forced to drive a Pandino.”
He said it Roberto Occhiutopresident of the Calabria Region and deputy national secretary of Forza Italia, speaking at the convention of the blue movement “At the center of the Mediterranean”, underway in Santa Flavia (Palermo).
”The left has inserted autonomy into the Constitution, this must be clarified. And other aspects must also be clarified. Article 116 of our Fundamental Charter tells us that autonomy is a possibility. While articles 117 and 119 provide for obligations: to finance social and civil rights equally throughout the national territory, in Caltanissetta as in Lecco, and to implement equalization.
I hope the referendum doesn’t take place, because I fear its results very much. In Calabria the consultation would end 90 to 10 against autonomy: the same result would occur in many other Southern regions. And those 90% of voters who would vote against autonomy are not just centre-left voters, they are also many centre-right voters who we cannot abandon. Also because when there is a space in politics the risk is that someone will occupy it, that perhaps someone within the centre-right, in harmony with the national government on other issues, will play the role of those who interpret these voters. Forza Italia, thanks to Antonio Tajani who has put the brakes on autonomy, is taking a line of great responsibility. A position that must be held to the end. Because we risk paying too high a price for the center-right and for Forza Italia.”