Liguria guest at the Book Fair, the organizers on the Toti case: “Relationships with the Institution, not with him”

The echo of the bribe case in Liguria not only means an earthquake for Iren but also reaches the pavilions of the Lingotto in Turin. Where, between one installation and another, the Book Fair starting on Thursday is preparing to welcome the Region as guest of honor of the 26th edition. Precisely the Liguria of governor Giovanni Toti, arrested together with the former number one of the Port Authority of the Western Ligurian Sea Paolo Emilio Signorini (from the end of August 2023 CEO of the multi-utility Iren) and the entrepreneur Aldo Spinelli for the chronic system of bribes and favors , say the magistrates.

As soon as the news spreads, the Salon distances itself: «We have relationships with the world of Ligurian culture, not with the institutions». The official note issued late in the morning was more cautious: «The Book Fair is sorry to learn from the press of the investigation involving the president of the Liguria Region. It confirms the normal carrying out of the activities organized in collaboration with the Region, host of this XXXVI edition”. In any case, Judicial troubles are out of the Salone, where the protagonists in the “Ligurian square” currently being set up are instead “Ligurian books and culture as well as music, tourism and food and wine”. Not Ligurian politics, not Toti, who was not included in any of the talks in the program of the institutions at the Salone. Although the presence of the governor of the host region was obviously not excluded during the five days. Starting from the gala dinner for the opening night on May 9th, at 8pm at the Royal Palace of Venaria, for which the Liguria Region had extended its invitations.

What is certain is that Toti’s intervention in the first person, in relations with the Salone, is underlined in various ways. It couldn’t be otherwise not only because he is the governor, but also because he had kept the delegations for Culture in the Ligurian regional council for himself.

Obviously, having been placed under house arrest, the president and councilor for Ligurian culture Giovanni Toti will not be able to be present at Liguria’s debut as a host region of the Salone.

Toti’s last appearance in Turin for the Salone will be his speech at the presentation of the February Salone: ​​«The synergy with Turin will enrich the cultural offer of a Liguria which has made its words a great driving force», he said. Concluding his speech thus: «For the occasion everyone will be ambassadors of Liguria in the world”. Not him, overwhelmed by the bribery case, despite the synergy being «strongly desired by the president of the Liguria Region and councilor for culture Giovanni Toti» as announced on 4 December by the coordinator of cultural policies in the Liguria Region Jessica Nicolini.