Federico Basile appears in the Chamber and delivers the budget forecast for 2026 to the competent council commission, chaired by Margherita Milazzo. In the same session, the disposal plan prepared by “Patrimonio Spa” and which includes 12 municipal assets, including Block 88, home to the tax offices, is also approved (with 8 votes in favor and 11 abstentions).
A technical and administrative act, the economic-financial instrument of the Municipality, but also political. And precisely on a political level the discussion on the (imminent?) resignation of the mayor could not fail to ignite. The back-and-forth with Basile was triggered by FdI group leader Libero Gioveni, followed by councilor Giandomenico La Fauci of Ora Sicilia.
«It is a budget – Basile began – which, like every year, is constructed in advance of the deadline, set for 28 February. In the Council we even approved it in the autumn, last week the last favorable opinion arrived and so we sent it to the Council. There are no significant new elements compared to the previous budget forecast. It is a tool that is set up in a rigid manner each time, but then allows, over time, the possibility of intervening and reviewing certain aspects and items. Our objective was to maintain a substantial balance and reduce debt situations (let us always remember that we are within the Rebalancing Plan) and this is certified by the Board of Auditors. Some clarifications were requested and we gave them, in particular on the debt collection fund and on the litigation fund. We have added the financial completion of some works in progress. Unfortunately, in recent days, our city has been significantly affected, albeit less so than other Ionian municipalities, by Cyclone Harry. And it is clear that we will need to intervene, there will certainly be relief measures, working on municipal taxes and guaranteeing a fund to support the businesses and families affected. We are preparing a policy resolution in the Council, I hope there is a convergence in the Council, beyond the political differences. Measures that must be placed within the framework of national and regional measures, after the declaration of the state of emergency by the Council of Ministers. Those elements of direction, contained in the resolution, will have to find the relevant coverage. Furthermore, in the regional budget there are amendments that concern the Municipality of Messina and which must be implemented.”
Immediately after the mayor’s speech, it was Libero Gioveni, the group leader of Fratelli d’Italia, who took the floor and brought the discussion to the “subject of resignation”: «Mayor Basile began to illustrate the 2026 budget without letting us know his intentions. Given that this is the most important political instrument of economic planning, for the services that the Municipality will have to guarantee during this year, as group leader of FdI, as a councilor and as a citizen, I believe it is absolutely disrespectful to the Chamber to ask us to approve a budget without communicating whether or not it will leave the city in the hands of a commissioner. Is it appropriate for a mayor who could resign in a few days to leave us a budget that we would certainly have difficulty, with the commissioner, in changing based on the needs or critical issues that may arise? Councilor Giuseppe Schepis replied to Gioveni: «It is wrong to personalize and exploit any act brought to the Chamber, the budget must be discussed and voted on, what should the mayor have done differently?». And at that point the FdI councilors left the Commission in protest. Basile glossed over: «This Administration is fully in charge, the Budget is a document that must be presented to the Council. The issue of resignation has nothing to do with it today.”
