In a moment of great uncertainty for the Municipality of Catanzaro, Antonello Talericoregional councilor of Forza Italia and leader of the group that recently abandoned the majority led by the mayor Nicholas Flowery, he made heavy statements on the political situation in the city and on the possibility of an agreement between the mayor and Valerio Donato, his former opponent in the run-off and currently in Azione.
Talerico has harshly criticized the coherence of the center-left, underlining the difference in treatment reserved for him and his group compared to that of Azione. “At the time I was a problem because in the Region I was in the center-right with Forza Italia. But now Azione, which in the Region is in the center-right together with Forza Italia, is no longer a problem. To save the seat, an agreement can be made”.
Talerico’s words are full of indignation, highlighting how the councilors of Azione have often harshly criticized the mayor, even calling him incompetent. “The councilors of the Municipal Group of Azione have repeatedly called the mayor incompetent, reaching statements that were at times even defamatory, with accusations of having committed illegal acts. Faced with these offenses, no one with dignity would ever make an agreement”.
The regional councilor then asks a reflection on the true nature of political betrayal in Catanzaro, stating that it is not his group’s exit from the majority that constitutes the real betrayal towards Fiorita’s electorate, but rather the idea of an agreement with Donato, his opponent in the run-off. “The real betrayal of the electorate that elected Fiorita is not the agreement with Talerico, who before voting in the run-off publicly said that he supported Fiorita. The real betrayal is making an agreement with the person who was your opponent in the run-off”.
Talerico then goes on to define the hypothesis of a shared administration between Fiorita and Donato is paradoxical. “Those who didn’t want Fiorita voted for Donato, and those who didn’t want Donato voted for Fiorita. Today, Fiorita and Donato are thinking of administering together… I don’t know if it’s a question of a receivership or a division.”
Talerico’s attack becomes even harsher when he accuses the mayor of lacking courage, referring to the elimination of the council as an act of “cowardice” https://catanzaro.gazzettadelsud.it/articoli/politica/2024/09/07/crisi-politica-a-catanzaro-antonello-talerico-attacca-lipotesi-di-un-accordo-tra-donato-e-fiorita-5368212c-e14a-4c35-8d51-e3aef153ac10/. “Did you talk about courage? In the elimination of the council’s delegations, I see cowardice instead. A very serious act that unloads responsibilities onto the councilors that they do not have”. According to the Forza Italia councilor, true courage would have been to admit political and administrative errors without passing them on to others.
Talerico does not spare criticism even on the possibility that Azione will not accept assessor positions, stating that behind the agreement there would already be people ready to cover important roles. “The statement that Azione would not accept the councilorship is another falsehood. Behind the agreement with Azione there has been a name and a surname for some time. In fact, from under the umbrella there were already those who boasted about it…”.
In conclusion, Talerico foresees difficult months for the city of Catanzaro, but sends a message of hope for the future. “I believe that these will be very complicated months… then we will free the city and the united center-right will (finally) return to lead the Municipality”.
Antonello Talerico’s attack represents a crucial moment in the political crisis that has hit the Municipality of Catanzaro, leaving the future of the municipal administration more uncertain than ever.