An intense day between Messina and Taormina in view of the vote in the European elections on 8 and 9 June. Yesterday’s event, for the “Freedom” project and for South calls North, was full of significant moments. The arrival of Captain Ultimo in Messina and then the sponsors’ gala dinner at the “Diodoro” hotel, to promote self-financing, characterized the political day. But, during dinner, the “presence” of Cateno De Luca, still in hospital for acute pneumonia, was entrusted to the voice of his wife, Giusy Gregorio, with a long letter. There was no shortage of notes of bitterness, with an invitation to his “his people” to pay the share due to the South and call the North on a regular basis. De Luca wrote: “If I had not been generous since I embarked on my political journey, many mayors and deputies would not have been such. If I had not sacrificed a good part of my life to work and finance my passion for politics and for the common good, many communities would not have discovered the meaning of good politics and good administration. But then why are you in Taormina and I am in a hospital bed?”.
And again: “The answer is banal but not obvious: because I fought for your freedom after having conquered mine without being overwhelmed by selfishness and the splendor of power and the comforts of money. Human ingratitude is greater than God’s mercy! No one is offended and no one is offended but it is time to examine one’s conscience as a sober and significant act of love towards me.”
The “counter expedition of the Thousand”, procession and video in Fiumedinisi
His staff says: “The appeal launched by the leader of the South calls North Cateno De Luca and federation from the list Freedom was raised by 350 real sponsors and supporters. The goal of the two days was to collect one million euros. Overall, approximately 900 thousand euros have been collected to date, of which 500 thousand euros have already been paid, and another approximately 400 will arrive with monthly payments already scheduled until December. The costs for the dinner were also covered thanks to funding from the sponsors. To recover the last 100 thousand, according to the set objective, there is still the whole day today with the Villaggio della Libertà event, scheduled to start at 1.30 pm in Fiumedinisi”.
The staff continues: “Among the key moments of today, Sunday 5 May, “The counter-expedition of the Thousand” and the enlistment and oath of the sentinels of Freedom, with the historical re-enactment of the expedition of the Thousand and the greeting speeches of the candidates from all over Italy on the list Freedomto. At 6pm the procession of the Thousand Sentinels of Freedom will parade through the streets of Fiumedinisi. At 9pm “Face to face with Capitano Ultimo” is scheduled. And finally, at 10.30pm, a video documentary on the life of the leader of the South calls North, federation of the freedom list, Cateno De Luca”.
“No boss, no lobby”
Returning to yesterday evening in Taormina, the highlight was the live Facebook reading of De Luca’s message. The protagonist, for once, was Mrs. Giusy Gregorio, who also cut the “Freedom” cake together with the president of Sud Call North Laura Castelli. With them, in the foreground, the president of Sicilia Vera Giuseppe Lombardo (great words of praise for him in the letter) and the regional coordinator Danilo Lo Giudice.
“This event – highlighted Cateno De Luca in the letter entrusted to his wife – represents a further moment in our way of being: no boss, no lobby but widespread shareholder ownership in compliance with the rules governing party financing. Those who engage in politics for money will never be able to pursue the common good, will never have that necessary impartiality that allows you to distinguish good from evil, will never have the gift of considering “the armchair” as an instrument and not as an end. And he will never experience the joy of passing the institutional baton to others without the resentment of possession that characterizes the man of power. Generosity in politics is a rare commodity and I say thank you to all those who chose to be in Taormina.”
