«We have thirty-four days to be among the people and give them hope, remembering the disasters committed by Alberto Cirio in these five years». Thus the secretary of the Democratic Party Elly Schlein launches the electoral campaign Gianna Pentenero in Piedmont, to vote next 8 and 9 June for Regional, European and Administrative, at 10 in the morning via connection from a Frecciatossa. The connection doesn’t help the dem secretary, but the enthusiasm of the people makes up for it over 300 militants gathered at the Envipark at the press conference to present the centre-left programme. Which, after internal stomach aches and legal troubles, wants to contest the Region from the centre-right.
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The meeting begins to the tune of “Gianna” by Rino Gaetano. It is the soundtrack of the electoral sprint, which Pentenero wants to enrich with “thesis” and not “illusions”, quoting the singer-songwriter’s first verse. Militants, candidates, politicians start arriving at the Envipark from 9am. Among them the mayor of Turin Stefano Lo Russo, the vice-president of the Senate Anna Rossomando, the parliamentarians Andrea Giorgis, Mauro Laus and Mauro Berruto, the regional secretary of the Democratic Party Domenico Rossi, the former regional health councilor Antonino Saitta.
«We are many» begins Pentenero. Who with his first words promises: «We want to write a new page for Piedmont. And this page is not already written, as some often repeat: we want to win.” To do it “the first objective is to intercept 50% of people who have decided not to vote anymore. We want to demonstrate that voting is important by walking in our territories, listening to people.” It is at this point that the candidates running for the Region, for the European and the Administrative elections (over 800 Municipalities voting in Piedmont) stand up, receiving the loudest of the nine applause that interrupts the 13-minute opening speech of the candidate.
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Healthcare and the memory of Sante Baiardi: “Citizens ask those who govern for planning”
For the Democratic Party, the first challenge to face in this electoral campaign is Healthcare. The most important battlefield, the weak point of the center-right. Pentenero has often repeated it, the Piedmontese Democrats have attacked the Cirio council several times, guilty “in the last 5 years of having relegated Piedmont to the Lea from first to seventh place in Italy”.
The first thought, on the health dossier, goes toformer partisan Sante Baiardi, member of the PCI and former councilor for transport and health of Piedmont from 1975 to 1985 who passed away last 13 October. «Sante Baiardi said something important – Pentenero recalls – Healthcare needs planningneeds an attentive government that knows how to respond to the needs of a public health system.”
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The first j’accuse in Cirio revolves around the Lea, but also the hiring in hospitals «announced with propaganda, but the doctors who have retired outnumber those hired.”
The promise on transport: “It will be free for those under 25 years old”
The second pillar of the election campaign is public transport. Pentenero’s main proposal is to propose it free for those under 25 years old: «Young people ask us to have more opportunities in the area. We will study and find the solution in our budget.” The second attack on Alberto Cirio touches on European funds and their management: «The Region is not an entity that provides resources in abundance – criticizes Pentenero -. The Region has a fundamental competence: that of planning. And this administration has forgotten. The Municipalities ask us for systemic answers, not the contributions.”
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And then again: promotion of legality, attention to the environment, social policies. Measures for the education, monitoring and control of public works, the modification of the current regional legislation on gambling. «And I ask parliamentarians not to approve the Calderoli decree – concludes Pentenero – which puts its hands on the Regions system. Italy can’t afford it.”
The memory of Mayor Lo Russo: “They thought I was defeated”
The mayor of Turin Stefano Lo Russo also talks about planning, before embracing Gianna Pentenero to whom he dedicates an affectionate “I see you are fierce, that’s good” at the beginning of the speech. «We need a long-term policy that looks ahead», declares Lo Russo.
Gianna Pentenero’s embrace with the mayor Stefano Lo Russo (photo by Daniele Solavaggione / Ag Reporters)
Which is granted «an autobiographical anecdote», he who the centre-right beat him in 2021 in the municipal elections: «I have memory, and I discovered that in politics it is a flaw – he jokes – but today more than ever it is important to remember how analysts and sociologists had delivered the Municipality of Turin to someone else. Instead we were able to not get demoralized, to build a path, starting from a fundamental element: being among people.”
Lo Russo’s wish ends with an appeal for unity:
The difference between us and them is that the center-left has a project that belongs to everyone. Pentenero is strong if we are strong and are close to her
Regional secretary Rossi: “Cirio shows his kind face but Piedmont becomes a laboratory for the worst right”
Before the mayor of Turin, the regional secretary of the dem Domenico Rossi had thundered: «This program is a complaint». The complaint is against a reality “that we don’t like and we want to change, from healthcare to public transport through the ecological transition, attention to the environment and disabilities”. Then Cirio warns: «Ours, today, is not an exercise in political theory. In recent years, injustices have increased, Cirio makes propaganda announcements and shows his kind, moderate face, while Piedmont becomes a laboratory for the worst right. The center-right carries out battles that we cannot underestimate, such as the one on consultancies.”
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To win, from secretary Schlein to the presidential candidate, everyone admits they have “little time”. But Rossi warns: «We can do it. Reminding us not to delude ourselves into thinking that having more correct ideas than those who have horrifying ones is enough. Let’s connect our ideas with people, or they will win.”
The support of Schlein and Bonaccini: “You will fight like a lioness”
«I thank you, Gianna, for making yourself available to this community that wants to change Piedmont», began the secretary of the Democratic Party Elly Schlein in its connection from the Frecciarossa to the Convention.
The right wants a healthcare system where only those with deep pockets can skip the waiting lists by going private
“Those who can’t make it, because they are part of a middle class impoverished through inflation, the pandemic and economic crisis, the effects of the energy crisis and war, are giving up on treatment.” From Piedmont to the rest of Italy, the exclamation point of his speech returns to the challenge for decent work: «We fight for a minimum wage and for the renewal of contracts».
Elly Schlein’s support for Gianna Pentenero (photo by Daniele Solavaggione / Ag Reporters)
The president of the Democratic Party and governor of Emilia-Romagna Stefano Bonaccini, however, connects towards the end of the Convention directly from the car. He greets the presidential candidate of the Piedmont Democratic Party like this: «Dear Gianna, I have known your determination for many years – she says from the back seats – I am sure that you will fight like a lioness against the right-wing wind». Bonaccini does not want to “give lessons but advice”, and speaks of “support against the birth rate, cutting the cost of labour, funds for research, for nursery schools, for a better social and health system”.
