“Precisely with his resignation, Mayor Basile certifies that Messina is hostage to politics and, specifically, to the dynamics, whims and strategies of its political leader of reference”. This was stated in a note by Armando Hyerace, provincial secretary of the Democratic Party.
“After more than two months of uncertainties, postponements and ambiguities, the reasons given – highlighted Hyerace – appear frankly inconsistent and laughable. The administrative history of Messina – and not only – demonstrates that other mayors, an expression of civic experiences, have governed even without a council majority, fully assuming responsibility for the mandate received from the citizens, without escaping the difficulties.
A non-existent numerical crisis
In the case of Basile, however, not only was there no real absence of a majority, but there were no particular difficulties either: even a casual observer cannot have missed the fact that, apart from the formal abandonments, there is no recollection of measures proposed by the Council that were not, in fact, supported by the same majority that emerged from the last elections.
The institutional surrender and the judgment of the PD
This choice therefore marks a political and institutional surrender. For our part, as the opposition and as the PD, we take note of this favorably, because we have never shared the political and administrative approach of this mayor and we believe that his exit from the scene finally opens up the possibility of a change of direction for the city. The judgment on the mayor, however, will not be limited to this gesture: it will inevitably be extended to what has been done and, above all, to what has not been done during the entire mandate.
Towards a new phase for the city
Now opens – concluded Hyerace – a truly new phase for Messina. A phase based on credibility, responsibility and autonomy of local politics from external influences. We need a clear and concrete vision for the future of the city, built around the needs of citizens and the development of Messina, not subordinated to anyone’s personal destinies nor to the tactical convenience of a political movement.”
Antonio De Luca (M5S): “Basile’s resignation is an offense to Messina”
“The resignation of Mayor Federico Basile is welcome – we read in a note from the Hon. Antonio De Luca, group leader of the 5 Star Movement at the ARS. – at least we will finally be able to give a serious government to this city. But it is clear that this is an irresponsible and offensive gesture towards Messina and the entire provincial territory.
Basile is using the city as a pawn in an electoral game constructed by those who got him elected. Abandoning the leadership of the Municipality and the Metropolitan City to go to early elections means putting party interests before the real needs of citizens, paving the way for a commissionership that will slow down essential programming and interventions.
This choice is even more serious because it comes after difficult days, marked by the emergency linked to Cyclone Harry, during which citizens expected a present and determined leader, capable of tackling the problems of the area with responsibility and continuity.
The truth is that these resignations have nothing to do with the good of the city: they are an act of pure electoral calculation, an operation designed to return to the vote at the most convenient moment for the mayor’s party, to the detriment of the community. And this story confirms an obvious political fact: Basile lacks real autonomy and is ready to step aside when his boss decides, even if Messina pays the price.
Not even the motivation linked to the lack of numbers in the City Council is credible: it is a specious justification. Suffice it to remember that Cateno De Luca governed Messina without even having a city councilor. And then, if Basile were to be re-elected, it is not at all certain that he will obtain the majority prize. And if he doesn’t have it, what will he do? Will he resign again? It is clear that we are faced with a narrative artfully constructed to cover a choice that is electorally convenient, but institutionally unacceptable and contrary to the good of the city.
Messina deserved more respect, seriousness and stability. What is happening is yet another power play played on the citizens.”
Musolino (IV) :“Messina victim and humiliated by De Luca’s theatrics”
“Mayor Federico Basile’s resignation is the certification of an external political and human failure. De Luca first humiliates Basile, forcing him to resign early with a reason that the mayor himself is unable to defend, and then publicly mocks him, pretending not to know anything. This is the treatment that De Luca reserves for Messina: humiliation and derision, treating the citizens like fools willing to believe the nonsense told in the press conference”.
This was declared by Italia Viva senator Dafne Musolino, commenting on the farewell of the First Citizen.
The Senator from Messina continues: “The truth is evident and clear for everyone: De Luca is at the helm of a political movement that does not exist beyond the borders of Messina and he needs to guarantee his stronghold in order to then be able to play it as a chip on the alliances’ plate in view of the next national and regional elections. In the name of this exchange, today Basile gambled his mayoralty without even realizing the high degree of offense contained in the concepts he expressed.
“Putting the responsibility for an alleged slowdown in political action on the city council – continued Musolino – when the numbers instead tell exactly the opposite – out of 442 resolutions since the beginning of the mayoralty only 1 was rejected by the civic assembly – means shooting in the air hoping to hit something! Even more serious is that a Mayor thinks of reducing the role of the city council, which is the elective body of political control of the administration, to a mere paper-pusher that must approve uncritically the acts without wasting time in ‘useless’ democratic debates”.
According to Dafne Musolino, “Basile offered a painful spectacle: after half an hour of self-celebration in which he took personal credit for every action or result achieved, or presumed to be so, without a nod of thanks either to the council or to the surviving city councilors, as if the mayor were a monocratic body that embodies all the powers, he did not dignify a word to the citizens who are experiencing the dramatic situation of the post-cyclone Harry devastation. Basile announces his resignation without any respect for the citizens who voted for him and not even towards those who, in these hours, would have imagined receiving support and control. He goes away like the boy who leaves the playing field carrying the ball with him because his teammates didn’t let him score a goal” concludes Musolino.