Mario Guarente is increasingly closer to giving up his candidacy as mayor for the next municipal elections in Potenza
POWER – Mario Guarente he continues to leaf through the daisies – whether to accept the re-nomination as mayor of Potenza or not – but his renunciation appears more and more concrete. The outgoing mayor – to whom the centre-right, at national level, has given the “green light” to run for a second term – could soon dissolve his reservations, determined by a revolt of his majority highlighted in a country-wide manner with the desertion of the the last session of the city council of all the councilors support, except those of the League. A statement on the matter from the mayor of the capital was already expected yesterday, but it was not forthcoming. The final choice could be made known today.
What is certain is that the distribution scheme of candidates in the various regional capitals among the parties of the centre-right coalition will not be touched. In short, it is taken for granted that the candidacy for mayor is the prerogative of the League, as established in Rome a few days ago, in the aftermath of the result reported by the centre-right at the Regionals. So much so that the allies – Fratelli d’Italia and Forza Italia – are already wondering about the name of the possible alternative candidate to Guarente. And here the maneuvers underway for the composition of the new regional council, which the re-elected president Vito Bardi will have to launch, also come into play.
MUNICIPALITIES IN POTENZA, POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVES TO MARIO GUARENTE
Among the Northern League names alternative to that of Mario Guarente, the most probable is, for example, that of Francesco Fanelli, outgoing regional councilor for Health and first place among those not elected in the ranks of the League. But the name of Gianmarco Blasi, municipal budget councilor of the capital but also coming second among those not elected in the race for the Regional Council, is also circulating with a certain insistence.
Now it is taken for granted that Bardi will appoint a League councilor and, in this sense, the most popular name is that of the party’s regional coordinator and mayor of Tolve Pasquale Pepe, the most voted among the Northern League members. If this were to happen, who will take over the Region? It’s up to Fanelli in the first instance but if the now former regional health councilor were to be a candidate for mayor of Potenza, Blasi would take over Pepe’s place in the regional council. If, however, it is Blasi’s turn to run for mayor of the capital, Fanelli will be the one to return to via Verrastro, albeit as a councilor. A hypothesis, the latter, which apparently would not displease the former regional councilor for Health and Personal Policies.
THE HYPOTHESIS OF A WOMAN’S CANDIDATURE
In truth, in the swirl of hypotheses and alternative names to the outgoing mayor Guarente, that of a woman has also been circulating, the outgoing municipal councilor for Culture and Tourism of the capital, Stefania D’Ottavio. This hypothesis, however, seems to have less consensus than those that see Fanelli and Blasi as possible candidates for the position of mayor of Potenza.
But on this too, naturally, it will be necessary to discuss with the allies of Fi and FdI. As well as, possibly, with the possible allies of Action and Italia viva, if the pattern of the Regionals were to repeat itself. A scheme, apparently, hoped for by the centre-right, also to measure the “loyalty” of the new parties to the coalition. So much so that – another hypothesis circulating – governor Bardi could decide to appoint the new council only after March 11th, the deadline for submitting the lists for the municipal elections.
