Add the Gazzetta del Sud as a source
Around 5 this morning, unknown persons set fire to the Fiat 500 parked outside the house in Bivona of the municipal councilor and former budget councilor of Vibo Laura Pugliese (who resigned as group leader of the Democratic Party a few days ago and moved to Italia Viva). The Carabinieri intervened on site and started investigations to ascertain the exact dynamics of the facts, establish the origin of the fire and trace whoever was responsible. At the moment no leads are excluded by investigators.
Escalation of violence that does not stop in Vibo and once again sees municipal administrators and managers in the crosshairs. A year ago it was also the councillor’s husband who was attacked, brutally attacked by criminals inside his business. Two people have been investigated for the beating and the legal proceedings are still ongoing. Investigators are also checking whether the two incidents can be linked or whether they are separate events. The investigations are focusing on the analysis of the video surveillance systems present in the area, as well as on the collection of testimonies useful for the investigations. In recent months, intimidation had been carried out against the president of the municipal council, Antonio Iannello (his car was shot with him inside), the manager Andrea Nocita was attacked and his car set on fire as was the budget manager Claudia Santoro – there are two suspects for this episode – while a threatening message was sent to the councilor Marco Talarico.
Greco (IV): «Solidarity with Laura Pugliese. What happens in Vibo is intolerable”
«I express my full solidarity with Laura Pugliese and her family. What happened this morning in Bivona is a serious act, which is part of a series of intimidating episodes that have been affecting administrators, managers and officials of the Municipality of Vibo Valentia for months.” This was declared by Filomena Greco, Regional Commissioner of Casa Riformista – Italia Viva. «What is happening in Vibo cannot be treated as a sum of isolated episodes – adds Greco -. Burnt cars, physical attacks, shots fired, threatening letters: it is a systematic escalation that affects those who play a public role and which puts at risk the freedom and safety of those who choose to serve the institutions. The police are working and I trust that the investigations will shed full light on what happened. But we cannot say clearly that this climate is intolerable.” «My full closeness goes to Laura – concludes Greco -. Those who choose to serve the institutions must never be left alone.”
The solidarity of the Vibo Democratic Party
“The Democratic Party of the province of Vibo Valentia expresses the most sincere and firm solidarity with the municipal councilor Laura Pugliese for the vile act suffered in the last few hours. What happened – we read in the dem’s note – does not only represent an attack on the individual administrator, to whom we hold ourselves with affection and closeness, but constitutes yet another serious assault on the democratic institutions of our community. It is in fact the latest in a worrying series of episodes that have affected the democratic representation and administrative leadership of the city of Vibo Valentia.
As a political community we express absolute and unquestioning condemnation of all forms of violence and intimidation. No threat will be able to stop the work of those who work daily with dedication and transparency for the public good.
We renew our utmost trust in the work of the police and the judiciary, confident that they will shed full light on these very serious facts and identify those responsible. Our constant presence goes to councilor Pugliese and the entire municipal administration and we invite you to continue with your head held high on the path of legality and commitment for the city.”