LAMEZIA TERME The past, the present, the future. Two and a half years of legislature at the helm of the Region, and as many on the horizon, and then, intertwined, the political agenda, from the European elections to the role in Forza Italia and medium-long term objectives. On Monday, the President of the Calabria Region Roberto Occhiuto will meet journalists to take stock of the government’s action at the Citadel: this is the “official” reason for the press conference, but it is clear that Monday’s appointment lends itself to having implications and perhaps also additional purposes. Moreover, we are on the eve of the official opening of the electoral campaign European who for Occhiuto, as not only president of the Region but also national leader of Forza Italia – is one of the four deputies of the secretary Antonio Tajani – they are at the same time a “coupon” and a crossroads of many roads.
The institutional level
First of all, there is the road traveled and the road to be taken at the helm of the Calabria Region. The first two and a half years were addressed by Eye-catching with an objectively fast pace and a clearly pragmatic attitude, probably pace and pace dictated by the awareness that certain things are either taken head on or will never be done in Calabria. For this reason, Occhiuto, even on internal lines (even if they remained hidden), has not lacked criticism of an alleged excessive individualism, bordering on authoritarianism, in his government action. However, Occhiuto has already brought home several important results (read here). The relaunch of Sacal and Calabrian airports, with the permanent arrival of Ryanair. The crackdown on the environment with the campaign “zero tolerance” to fight arsonists and bad sewage treatment and with the “publicisation” of Sorical, the fight against illegal activity, including ‘Ndrangheta, with the demolition of the eco-monster of Torre Melissa. The reform of the reclamation consortiadismantled to make way for a single regional body. The various choices adopted even with a hard face in Calabrian healthcaresome of which are actually new, such as the start of debt assessment, never attempted even timidly in the now 14 years of administration, the unblocking of hiring, the restart of projects for new hospitals, the birth of the “Dulbecco” university hospital company in Catanzaro, waiting in vain for 20 years, the start of the Faculty of Medicine in Cosenza, this too has been awaited in vain for 20 years. The work for a new narrative of Calabria, symbolized in Rai New Year’s Eve in Crotone. The start of the new 112 operations center at the Cittadella, “christened” by the president of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola and the ministers Antonio Tajani and Matteo Piantedosi. He then remembers the signing of the cohesion agreement with the government chaired by Giorgia Meloni which should lead to investments in the order of three billion in Calabria. These themes will certainly arise in Occhiuto’s press conference on Monday, in addition to the objectives to be achieved between now and 2026.
The political level
Because the future is indeed still to be written, and here there are certainly many matches for Occhiuto, however intertwined with each other. In this sense, the role of regional president is inevitably contaminated with that of an important national political leader. In June there are the European elections and the balance of the things done and the “forecast” of what he wants to do are also an “advertisement” to spend in view of an election which is decisive in several respects. As a party man, Occhiuto knows that the European elections are decisive first and foremost for the future of Forza Italia, that second place in the government coalition is being played with the League, and for this reason, together with the “general staff” of the Calabrian blues, Occhiuto is preparing to don the helmet for an undoubtedly intense electoral campaign. In fact, the European Championships are a “junction” for different directions, because depending on how they end there will be effects at all levels. The most accredited political observers are already taking this into account after the vote a review of the regional council. But not only that: nIn recent weeks several national newspapers have mentioned Occhiuto’s name as one of the possible new ministers in the equally possible reshuffle at Palazzo Chigi. And again: if several months ago Occhiuto had effectively ruled out the possibility of his re-nomination at the helm of the Region, in his latest public statements what seemed like a “no” is no longer a “no”” but a “maybe”, a “it depends on…” (read here). In short, a lot of stuff and certainly on Monday at the press conference there will be space not only for a look at the past and present but also for a look at Occhiuto’s future. (a. cant.)
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