He will be in Bari on May 13th, together with the Northern League leader Matteo Salvini to effectively launch Fabio Romito’s electoral campaign in the capital municipality. General Roberto Vannacci will take the stage for his first rally as a Eurocandidate in the European Parliament elections on 8 and 9 June.
Strange fate for the League in the land of Puglia: it has “its” mayoral candidate in Bari who will not be supported by a list with the symbol of Alberto da Giussano who will instead wear the Christian Democrat shield, that of the UDC of the former centre-left ally Antonio Cassano. Furthermore, he will have one of his major electoral appeals in Vannacci, a pity that Vannacci did not join the Salvini party.
General, do you feel like a Northern League supporter?
«I’m not a member of the Northern League. Whoever votes for Vannacci, votes for my person, not the list or the symbol. Matteo Salvini was the only one to show solidarity with me in a difficult moment, but with the League I am only united by the same vision on some values…”.
Which?
«Homeland, national identity, protection of the family, defense of the borders, like in the South, exposed to the invasion of illegal immigrants and paying the consequences».
And what do these values have to do with your candidacy for the South?
«In the South these are deeply felt values. Southerners are traditionalists and care a lot about their territorial identity.”
And how southern are the Apulians?
«They are determined and hard-working people who demonstrate great passion in the things they do. If you want, I can also make some comparisons between some provinces of Puglia?”
Go ahead!
«Well, in my experience, the people from Bari are very open, they express opinions and are loyal, while the people from Lecce are closed, taciturn people and you never know what they really think. I won’t say about the rest.”
But why should the people of Puglia vote for it?
«Because they know that they can trust me. I am not a politician, but a man of action who will bring the issues that concern the South to Europe, focusing on four directions: greater infrastructure, agri-food excellence and development of industry 4.0.”
Is one missing?
«The fourth is tourism. There is one thing that I care about in particular, because despite being a parachutist I am a man of the sea: I would like to develop pleasure and luxury boating which goes well with the traditional hospitality of, for example, the people of Puglia”.
It will be on the 13th in Bari to support Romito, then the next day in Torre Santa Susanna, aren’t you afraid of protests?
“Why should I? I wonder why people, instead of peacefully discussing things, come to dispute without understanding my reasons? I don’t fear their criticism and I respect their opinions. And so I say to all of them, come, enter the room where I am and let’s talk to each other calmly and with mutual respect, because discussion is enriching.”
General, returning to the European elections, you will have Apulians like Antonio Decaro against you, what do you think of the judicial events involving the Municipality and Region?
«I avoid judgments about people and matters I don’t know. I follow my path which I hope will bring the desired result, but without going against someone or something. In the end we will see whether my arguments or those of my opponents have made a breakthrough, but without poisoning the wells. I always remain a soldier with precise rules.”
