Renato Schifani is aiming for a second mandate at the helm of the Sicilian Region and claims the support of “practically the entire coalition”. On the sidelines of a conference organized byAge at the Politeama theater in Palermo, the president makes clear his desire to continue: «I take for granted my commitment which I intend to continue to implement in the interest of the Sicilians».
«We are working well and I don’t say the joke “I feel like I’m in the election campaign”, because there’s still a year to go», says Schifani. Then the explicit reference to the re-nomination: «Practically the entire coalition has spoken in favor of a “Schifani bis” and for this I thank all the parties».
The second mandate in the name of continuity
The governor links the prospect of an encore to the continuation of administrative and political activity: «More than rules, in my opinion it is an opportunity for concreteness and continuity of administrative and political action. I am extremely focused on this.”
Autostrade, ultimatum until 3 October: “I’ll take the file into my own hands”
On the same occasion Schifani also addresses the dossier of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport on Sicilian motorways. The ministry has set October 3 as the deadline by which the Sicilian Motorway Consortium and the Region will have to start urgent risk mitigation interventions on the Palermo-Messina and Messina-Catania routes, considered unsafe. In the absence of evidence, the hypothesis could be that of a traffic ban.
«I will immediately take charge of the dossier», assures the president, who traces the critical issues to «over ten-year historical legacies»: «It is certainly not my fault or that of my friend Nello Musumeci, who was my predecessor».
Schifani announces checks on the state of maintenance: «If there are dangers for the safety of citizens and the usability of car routes, we cannot be distracted».
A discussion with councilor Aricò is planned to take stock. The governor recalls the request made to Matteo Salvini, at the beginning of the legislature, to be appointed commissioner of the A19 to speed up construction sites: «I am acting like a whip towards companies that slow down». And he concludes: «There is no doubt that intervening on the Palermo-Messina, which instead belongs to the Region, is a necessary action on my part».