Marcello Pittella, 48 hours before the regional elections in Basilicata, makes his demands in the pages of the newspaper and talks about the disagreements with Bardi
POTENZA – Not only equal dignity for Action within a possible new centre-right majority, compared to the founding parties of the coalition. But a thoughtful reading of the “numbers”. Because it is clear that once the counting is closed, it will be necessary to evaluate who was truly decisive for the victory. And who less.
This is also among the demands of Marcello Pittella 48 hours after the vote for the renewal of the president of the council and the members of the Lucanian parliament. Vote from which the election is expected, on the Action list, for a fourth council mandate, to be added to the five-year term as governor.
President, less than a month ago you announced your support for Bardi’s candidacy and his entry into the centre-right coalition. Was he able to explain the choice he made to all his friends and historic voters?
«Of course, with great seriousness, responsibility and respect for the thoughts of others. I talked about the dance of names put in place by Pd and 5S which led to Basilicata being ridiculed nationally, of the veto placed on Action and on me, and of the choice to continue to democratically express representation for a reformist area like the ours, through a program agreement with the center-right coalition. Among other things, something that is not unprecedented in the Italian political panorama.”
And his brother, Gianni, who publicly distanced himself from the choice to enter into a coalition with the centre-right? Was he unable to make him retrace his steps, to make him change his mind?
«My brother expressed his thoughts. Seeing us disagree, and it wouldn’t be the first time, doesn’t mean not understanding the political reasons.”
Retracing what happened, Azione abandoned the negotiations with Pd and M5s after the excited and unfortunate designation of Domenico Lacerenza as gubernatorial candidate, complaining of having been excluded from the decision. Even Psi and others, however, were not made aware of this and yet they remained in their place and after Lacerenza’s withdrawal they collectively indicated another candidate, Piero Marrese. Weren’t you looking for an excuse to join the centre-right?
«To tell the truth, Azione has never sat at any Roman negotiating table because it was never involved. And to tell the truth, after the overcoming of the “unfortunate” doctor Lacerenza, Azione was there to ask for further sharing, while in a note Baruffi and Taruffi, the duo from the Pd Schlein secretariat, among other things chased away to Basilicata amidst the shouts of democrats, were clearly closed to us. I add, there is no need for excuses. The Center-Left has shown that it does not want to be the space for reformists and instead wants to continue to be a place of hostility. Frankly, that’s enough.”
You spoke of a reaction to a veto against you and Action. Carlo Calenda, on the other hand, spoke of a choice dictated by the need to preserve oil and gas extraction, and, consequently, the state’s accounts. What is the truth?
«The two things are related. Carlo Calenda is not for the no-at-all-costs policy that caresses the voter without giving them a perspective. Here the 5 Star-led centre-left is doing just this: he is bludgeoning potential allies and demagoguery on issues that deserve great in-depth analysis.”
Subsequently there was Bardi’s announcement of the opening of the coalition to her and Action. Announcement in which the outgoing governor emphasized your sharing of various points of his government program. Did you really find anything different in Bardi’s program compared to the programs of the other candidates?
«The only programmatic sharing we were granted was with Bardi, to be honest. The center-left was too busy pursuing failed strategies and ostracism. With Bardi, we started precisely from the critical issues that must absolutely be overcome and without any ideological approach: healthcare in first place, protection of RMI and Tis (minimum income for social inclusion and internships, ed.), measures against depopulation and so on”.
What are the mandatory points of Action with respect to Bardi’s agenda for the next five years, if he is re-elected?
«Health comes first. It is necessary to reprogram and reorganize the hospital structure through an adequate socio-health plan that takes into account the territory, the acute cases and the emergency-urgency system, also in a logic of reinterpretation of the new health needs that have emerged after Covid. Systemic measures against depopulation which on the one hand mean lifeblood for a development and employment plan and on the other implement unprecedented measures such as the sovereign fund that can accompany Lucanians in accessing training, services and social life in Basilicata. But then, there is the minimum income which should be reviewed, as well as forestation. And look, I really care about Basilicata regaining centrality in the State-Region conference, an important place for defining territorial needs.”
And what about the projects for the differentiated autonomy of the regions? Do you plan to support Bardi even if he were to endorse, as he has already done in the past, measures implementing this reform whose risks you have repeatedly denounced, especially for the southern regions?
«I remain with my idea of differentiated autonomy, and I consider it unattainable until there are the necessary financial coverage and the definition of Lep (the essential levels of performance). I don’t think it will ever go through, but in any case I will continue to oppose it if necessary.”
Are the criticisms that you have directed at Bardi and the center-right in the last 5 years all a thing of the past?
«They are there and we start again from those. We are adults and good people. We will have to make a synthesis of distant positions to try to do the best.”
The day after the vote, do you expect the same consideration from Bardi, for yourself and for Action, as the other centre-right parties? Aren’t you afraid that you will be treated like the latest arrivals in a coalition that has been standing for 20 years?
«Ours is a program agreement and as such I expect that we will dialogue on the themes and on the merits of the issues. I am sure that Bardi will be able to draw on experience and ideas, or the agreement would not have made sense.”
If Action were to get the same votes as Lega or Forza Italia, so to speak, do you also expect the same representation within the regional council?
«Politics has rules which, however, are not just numerical. It also depends on how you read those numbers. However, this is a premature assessment. In the meantime, let’s go and win.”
In the last legislature, the centre-right majority parties often complained about Bardi’s exercise of presidential prerogatives in terms of appointments and roles, without sharing the choices to be made. Do you think that in the next 5 years, if he is re-elected, Bardi will have to change his attitude?
«The review of regional governance is precisely one of the points of the programmatic agreement. I’ll translate it for you, we also discussed “full powers” with Bardi and the president informed us that it has already been overcome. I found an approach that was very inclined towards collaboration and doing better.”
Next Monday, with the polls closed, there will be two weeks left before the deadline for submitting lists and candidatures for the European and local elections in 52 out of 131 Lucanian municipalities. Do you think you can run for a seat in Brussels?
«No, Azione announced its candidates for the European elections a few days ago, including the southern constituency».
Potenza is among the municipalities in which voting will take place. The M5s leader, Giuseppe Conte, declared to the newspaper that his team will try to identify the best mayoral candidate with the traveling companions they met in this electoral campaign for the regional elections. Will Action seek an agreement with the centre-right also for the elections in the capital?
“Action will be on the side of merit and the relaunch of the city that deserves so much.”
Tags: Regional Basilicata Pittella disagreements Bardi adults
