CATANIA – “The noises you hear are the builders fixing up the house: in my life there are not only electoral campaigns”. Raffaele Stancanelli, among the founders of the past “It will become beautiful”, fresh candidate salvinian in the running for reconfirmation at the European Parliament, he receives us in his home studio.
Before turning on the recorder, a request arrives which is almost the measure of the many words left unsaid in recent months: “We are able to talk about issues or do we necessarily have to focus on political controversies?”.
Let’s start with the people and the voters: how is it going?
“I find great affection and closeness from many friends. My electoral campaigns are done by contacting everyone one by one. And yes, I feel a lot of confidence.”
Yet there is also a climate of disaffection towards this electoral cycle.
“It is true. And it happens essentially because Europe it is not heard: and this happens because of politics which has never made it clear that 70% of Italian legislation originates from Brussels and directly affects our legal system. And so this climate of disaffection is created.”
And how can this wall of almost indifference be broken down?
“By making people understand how important Europe is. But let me also say that Europe must be made to understand that it cannot impose the abstruse ways of political correctness on the lives of Italians and Sicilians.”
And you, who have been a representative of our country for five years, what role does Italy have in the European Parliament?
“We are one of the founding countries. But I must say that our political weight is not a enormous political weight.”
Help us understand why.
“Well, because over the years the importance of Europe has not been understood. This is something that Germany, France and Spain have not neglected and have worked more closely with European structures, having a decisive influence today”.
Listen, but would you have imagined just five years ago that you would not be a candidate with your previous FdI party?
“No. And I didn’t imagine it even a year ago, not five years ago.”
Is there regret in your heart for the way it ended? Who knows, maybe it was also due to some misunderstanding?
“No misunderstanding, also because misunderstanding exists when we speak and in this case we just couldn’t speak. At that point, I decided, as is well known, at the Congress last November not to run again because I had become a burden.”
Why did this situation occur?
“You’re free not to believe me: but I don’t know.”
Instead, in the end, someone spoke to her and it was Salvini.
“After I decided not to run again, but I would have preferred to do so because I think I did a really good job in the two commissions I worked on, the political courtships began. Among these, that of the Honorable Salvini who publicly expressed his appreciation towards me. We met and discussed many things: especially a party like the League which had become national and attentive to the problems of the South. And at what point did I decide to continue”.
Who are your main supporters within the League?
“Meanwhile, I have my supporters who have always followed me in my choices. And then I must say that the entire ruling class of the League in Sicily moves in unison and makes me feel like a strong candidate and this can only please me.”
From your “foreign observatory”, what idea do you have of the path taken by the regional government?
“Sicily, in my opinion, should have a greater impact on its relationship with Europe. I’ll give you an example. I tried, but failed, to make people understand that the presence of Sicilian structures in Brussels is indispensable. Imagine that other regions such as Piedmont, Lombardy, Emilia Romagna and Veneto have heavy structures that impact parliamentarians and commissions on a daily basis.”
But the Region already has premises in Brussels.
“Sicily has the premises but does not have employees in Brussels and this is a shortcoming that I have highlighted many times. Unfortunately there has never been the will or ability to strengthen these structures: it is not enough to have an employee and keep the representative office of the Sicilian Region open, when it is open. We need structures and leaders to be able to speak and have an impact.”
Yet Europe also appears to have numerous shortcomings.
“Certain. Europe, for example, is totally absent on foreign policy issues. There are twenty-seven foreign policies different: this is what we should be concerned with. And don’t impose taxes or strange ideas, for example on agriculture or fishing. How many battles must be carried out to make people understand that our agriculture is one thing and the agriculture of the north is another.”
Can you tell me which political personality, beyond party lines, embodies the future of Sicily?
“I don’t have a glass ball. As you know, I have always liked being a point of reference for bringing the center-right to agreement. I have always worked to smooth out the corners. If I am re-elected, and there is a good chance, I will work not only to carry out my job as an MEP for which one must study a lot and create relationships but, this time, I will not absent myself from more active political commitment. And I will lend my hand so that a ruling class emerges from Sicily that does not create imbalances. I am a right-wing man who has always cultivated dialogue with everyone.”
Lastly, you were mayor of Catania: what is your opinion of Mayor Trantino?
“I am no one to pass judgement. The situation in Catania is not a simple situation, we are always faced with difficulties. Things I’ve been dealing with for five years.”
No judgment but your impression?
“Everyone knows Enrico Trantino. He is a good person”.
