“The elections of 8 and 9 June are a decisive challenge for the future of Europe. And we must deploy all the best energies we have. For this reason I asked Stefano Bonaccini to lead the North-East list: his ten-year experience as president of Emilia-Romagna and his role as president of the Democratic Party make him a very strong proposal for the battle we must wage and ‘The Europe we want to build. I thank him for accepting”: this is the announcement of the secretary of the Democratic Party Elly Schlein.
“I accepted the challenge of the European elections because I am increasingly convinced that the future is Europe”. In a long message published on his Facebook page, the president of Emilia-Romagna, Stefano Boanccini, explains the reasons for his decision to accept the candidacy for the next European elections as leader of the Democratic Party in the North-East. “Elly Schlein asked me to run in the North-East constituency, thanking her I decided to accept. It was, believe me, a long reflection,” explains the governor. “Italy without a strong and united Europe would run and count less and less. For Emilia-Romagna, Europe is already the present,” he adds.
The president reassures about the future of the Region which he has administered for ten years. If he is elected to the European Parliament in June, the regional elections could take place “reasonably next autumn, ten years after the ones that brought me here”, in 2014, Bonaccini anticipates. “It will be an orderly transition, everything is in place so that there are no slowdowns”, not even in the spending of European funds, he guarantees. “It’s not a farewell message, nothing ends, it’s a new chapter,” he assures. “I have carried out this role with discipline and honor, as stated in our Constitution. Good or bad, it’s not for me to say, but I guarantee you that I gave everything I could. I always wanted to be the president of everyone,” he claims. “I am not leaving Emilia-Romagna, I will never leave here, I will play my role full time, if I am elected, until next summer, until the last day. For me, my story, my agenda speak for themselves,” he concludes.
“We cannot hand over Europe to those who think they can isolate Italy from the rest of the world, to those who want to raise walls and helplessly watch wars, as if they did not concern us”. In the video message in which he announces his candidacy for the European Championships, the president of Emilia-Romagna Stefano Bonaccini, outlines the contours of his possible future commitment in Brussels and the lines of his electoral program. “It is in Brussels that important decisions are made, and increasingly must be made. It is in Europe that our ability to represent our values and our interests is at stake. We are called to do a difficult and very important job: to implement policies that keep the environment and work together without opposing them, an ecological transition that safeguards the weakest classes and our supply chains. In Europe the conditions for peace are built or we surrender to wars. Without a stronger and more united Europe we would remain helpless spectators of decisions made by others,” he explains Bonaccini. “We must play a leading role in Europe, this is the reason that convinced me to accept this new challenge at the service of Emilia-Romagna and the North-East, more generally of the country. The second reason is that we cannot leave Europe in the hands of those who deny climate change or those who protest without having acted without competence and capacity when the decisions were made. To count and do well, you need knowledge, competence and concreteness”, he continues Bonaccini. “I make this choice with the same responsibility that took me ten years to agree to run for president of the beautiful Emilia-Romagna. I will try to serve the citizens with the same passion and energy that I have put in so far,” he promises.
The video of Stefano Bonaccini’s announcement:
The reactions from the center-right were harsh. “The candidacy for the European elections of Bonaccini it has the flavor of an escape from the problems it contributed to creating and was unable to resolve. An escape that has no respect for the people of Emilia-Romagna and is only useful for his political career and his personal interests. We are facing post-flood reconstruction, regional healthcare has enormous problems, citizens need a governor committed to local issues. He has already used the Region enough as a personal springboard, he should resign immediately and campaign as president of the Democratic Party and not as president of the Region. Thus citizens will be able to choose a new leader who truly cares about the future of Emilia-Romagna”. This was declared by Alice Buonguerrieri, deputy of Fratelli d’Italia.
“Bonaccini are you applying? Have a good trip, this will be the opportunity to govern the region and change course starting from the problems it has caused in healthcare”. For Matteo Rancan, Lega group leader in the regional council and secretary of the Emilia League, what was an open secret is finally revealed: “With a highly irresponsible gesture – adds Rancan – the president of the Region Stefano Bonaccini he escapes to Europe where he will be a candidate for the Democratic Party. A gesture that puts his personal political future before the good of our region which he abandons to itself. Also for this reason, as the League, we are ready to govern the Region”. Rancan adds: “In case of victory Bonaccini he should leave the presidency of the region, thus putting an end to the legislature and causing the regional council to decline. This is a gesture that looks more at the personal seat of Bonaccini than to our region. For political positioning Bonaccini for the good of our region by “escaping to Europe” given its uncertain future in Italy. Now it’s our turn, we are ready to govern the region, united, truly looking at the good of the citizens and the people of Emilia Romagna given the many shortcomings that this council has had, primarily in the management of local healthcare” concluded Rancan.
The Modenese deputy of Fratelli d’Italia Daniela Dondi is on the same line: “Enough teasing, Bonaccini must resign. People are tired of her superficiality. With Bonaccini at the helm of the Region only delays, holes in healthcare and bad management. Has he decided to go to Europe, in defiance of all the people he is about to abandon, and what’s more, leaving only disasters behind? Well, let it go, but we will no longer tolerate any lies or waste of time: our land needs concrete answers and good governance, which go beyond the personal selfishness of politics. Resign immediately and leave room for those who actually care about Emilia Romagna.”
And Fratelli d’Italia deputy Gaetana Russo: “Now we can consider it official: Stefano Bonaccini has announced its candidacy in the next European elections in June. The news actually didn’t catch us unprepared, we were sure that captain Bonaccini he would have left the ship in time, having not been supported by his own party in his request to open up to a third term in the Region. But just as the Democratic Party did not decide to give in to the pressure of the boasted ‘good administration’ of its most illustrious governor, characterized by a hole of over 400 million in regional healthcare and by the responsibilities linked to the flood of last May, in the same way also today we ask him to remove us from the embarrassment of having to wait for the electoral results, bending the future of Emilia Romagna to the President’s convenience Bonaccini, and we ask him to resign immediately. We need a new guide for Emilia Romagna who can write a new page of history for our region.”
The representatives of the Democratic Party obviously have a completely different opinion. “Dear Stefano, thank you for what you have done in and for Emilia Romagna together. You’re right: nothing ends today, it’s a new beginning. Your fight for our Region and our country will continue in the European Parliament. Never before has that commitment been so important, never before has Europe mattered so much for the lives of each of us. Thank you for what you did, in tremendously difficult moments: from the earthquake to the flood. Your expertise will prove invaluable and we are confident it will produce good results.” Thus the Democratic Party senator Sandra Zampa.
And Senator Enza Rando, of the national secretariat of the Democratic Party: “President Stefano’s candidacy Bonaccini in the next European elections as the leader of the North-East constituency is good news for the Democratic Party community and for these territories. The European challenge represents the most advanced point to stop the sovereignist wind and affirm the principles of dialogue and inclusion. The same principles that Stefano Bonaccini for ten years he put his work as Governor of Emilia Romagna at the center of his work. With Stefano the Democratic Party puts competence, experience and passion at the center.”
“Secretary Elly Schlein’s proposal to nominate Stefano Bonaccini as a candidate in the European elections as the leader in the North-East constituency is a positive fact – declares Claudio Mancini, deputy of the Democratic Party, speaking at an assembly of Roman executives – The Democratic Party gives a signal of strength, demonstrates that he is strong, united and combative for an electoral appointment that is fundamental for the prospects of Italy and Europe”.
(DIRE Agency)
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Tags: Schlein nominates Bonaccini European elections Emilia Romagna vote autumn VIDEO
