The Sicilian Regional Assembly experienced one of its most tense days, marked by the debate on the motion of no confidence against the President of the Region, Renato Schifani. In the Chamber there were alternating harsh thrusts, appeals for responsibility and even announcements that foreshadowed possible twists.
But the script, however, was respected without surprises and the Sicilian Regional Assembly rejected the motion presented by Pd, M5s and Controcorrente. Even regarding the numbers – apart from a few absences – no surprises. At the end of the vote, in fact, the votes against were 41 while those in favor were 26. For the no-confidence vote to pass, the favorable vote of the absolute majority of deputies, equal to 36 votes, would have been necessary. Three deputies were absent in the Chamber: De Leo, Ferrara and Pace.
The Ars was chaired for most of the discussion by the president Gaetano Galvagno (Fdi) who, a few minutes before the start, had received the news that the Palermo prosecutor’s office had requested his indictment for corruption, embezzlement, fraud and false ideology.
The discussion in the Chamber
“This motion was born weak in form and inconsistent in substance. It is a document that mixes judicial facts, political evaluations, personal opinions, transforming the Chamber into an imaginary court. There is a truth that this motion does not dare look in the eye: Sicily is growing, and independent bodies certify it. The Bank of Italy, in its latest regional report, found that the Sicilian economy is growing more than the national average, driven by public and private investments, tourism and infrastructure. In this motion there is only the attempt, not too veiled, to use judicial investigations as a picklock to overturn what the Sicilians have chosen with the vote. And here lies the real political point: the motion attempts to replace the popular will with a justicialist mechanism that does not belong to our democratic tradition” states, however, Salvo Geraci, group leader of the League in the Sicilian Regional Assembly, in the debate on the motion of no confidence in the Schifani government.
However, Vincenzo Figuccia, deputy commissioner of the League, opens up to a more detailed reading of the debate and, despite belonging to the majority, recognizes the critical issues raised by the opposition: «I listened carefully to the opposition’s interventions. Some things worthy of reflection have been said. We need a great sense of responsibility on the part of everyone, regardless of sides. Relevant aspects are emerging that deserve further study and courageous choices”, he states. And he adds: “The day is long and twists and turns cannot be ruled out.”
On the opposite front, the leader of Action Carlo Calenda does not mince words in outlining a very harsh picture of regional management: «The Sicilian region is completely out of control. Incompetence, cronyism and corruption have reached a level not seen for decades. The Region is not able to offer citizens the essential services guaranteed by the Constitution. We join the opposition’s request for the immediate resignation of the Schifani council.”
The climate is further inflamed by the request for indictment by the president of the Ars, Gaetano Galvagno, which shakes the majority on the same day as the discussion on the no-confidence vote. «It’s yet another tile for Schifani», attacks the M5S group leader Antonio De Luca. «If Galvagno were to go to trial he would have to resign to protect the already compromised image of Parliament. And in any case he should do some serious reflection right now.”
The intervention of the president of the Anti-Mafia Commission, Antonello Cracolici (PD), was also critical: «The judiciary does its job, but where is politics? Do you just comment? This president has shown obvious political weakness and thought about his re-election too soon. It’s inadequate. This government no longer exists.” The center-left also relaunches in the words of PD deputy Valentina Chinnici: «This Parliament will reject the motion, but we will bring this distrust to the streets».
Italia Viva’s attack was also hard. Fabrizio Micari denounces «an enormous political problem» which would involve the entire majority: «Galvagno sent to trial for corruption on the very day of the no-confidence vote is a symbol. All the political forces that support Schifani have exponents under trial or investigation. It’s the system that’s rotten. Go home, Sicily will not regret you.”
On the autonomist side, Cateno De Luca (South calls North) confirms the vote in favor of no confidence, not without arguing with the center-left for having been excluded from the so-called “San Martino Council”: «This is the last chance I give to the opposition. From January 1st I will continue with my liberation project”, he warns.
Schifani: “The Cuffaro case was a shock. But it’s not the Region’s fault”
«The Totò Cuffaro affair was a political shock which led us to a choice of political strategy of clarity with respect to the hypothesis of using a party for non-legitimate purposes. The relationship of esteem towards the two former councilors and the DC parliamentary group remains unchanged. There are other cases, it’s true, but I’m a guaranteeist and until there are sentences we have to wait” said the president of the Sicilian Region, Renato Schifani, speaking at the end of the debate at the Ars on the opposition’s motion of no confidence in him.
«With regards to corruption – he added – if this involves a two-way relationship, is there a responsibility on the part of the regional government? Do we have a big eye? We have set ourselves some rules and signed an agreement with the Anti-Corruption Department and these are the facts.” «We have entrusted the large contracts to Invitalia. We have signed an agreement with Anac for large contracts, the pediatric center and waste-to-energy plants. But if a regional official makes an unholy deal with an entrepreneur, what can the regional government do? Is it there in the closets, in the nooks and crannies where the illegal agreement is made? The opposition never made a proposal. There was no counter-proposal for a project or a program. Accusations, insults but where is your project? Three hours of speeches with accusations of atrocities, but what about the project? The governor of Sicily Renato Schifani said this while speaking to Ars in the session to discuss the motion for his no confidence.
«The climate that has been created is one of political aggression, the desire is to forcefully attack the adversary. The language is heavy, but if today it can be against us, tomorrow it could be against you. Attention, therefore, to all of us, let’s not exaggerate in the offenses because we risk degenerating into dangerous impulses” said the president of the Sicilian Region, Renato Schifani, responding to the debate on the opposition’s motion of no confidence against him, at the Ars.
«I am a lawyer, I have thirty years of law behind me and I am a man of Berlusconi culture, until there are investigations and there is a sentence, we have to wait. If an entrepreneur bribes a manager, is it the fault of the President of the Region?” he added.
And finally: «We have had the trust of the Sicilians and we have the right and duty to govern. If we go to the vote, what should the citizens vote for?”. The president of the Sicilian Region, Renato Schifani, said this, concluding his response to the opposition’s motion of no confidence. And finally the governor addresses the opposition: «You haven’t presented a shred of program, you are the party of no, of no to the bridge and to waste-to-energy plants. Instead, we are for yes, to do the works and therefore we continue to work.”
Then the vote. And the House that expressed itself against the no-confidence vote. «The majority showed great unity today. It was a very heated debate from the opposition and it was my duty to listen. I found, however, an absence of counter-proposal. They contested everything, without any counter-proposal. We move forward. I have never had any doubts about the outcome of this vote. We have the right and duty to govern” concluded the president of the Sicilian Region, Renato Schifani, to journalists, after the rejection of the opposition’s motion of no confidence.