In the Potenza municipal elections there could be a surprise second candidate, Galella (FdI) among the eligible candidates; the center-right is split. A mini coalition emerges against Guarente
POTENZA – There could be a second centre-right mayoral candidate for Potenza. Supported, more or less officially, by the Calendians of Action, by the Renzians of Italia viva, and by some exponents close to Gianfranco Rotondi’s DC. On the other hand, the 5 Star Movement is ready to support Angela Pignatari’s candidacy for mayor of Potenza. For it to materialize, however, Pierluigi Smaldone, who has been on the field for the Italian team since November, would need to take a step back. Only in this way could a front be formed capable of competing for the municipal administration with Vincenzo Telesca’s PD and the centre-right of the outgoing mayor, the Northern League member Mario Guarente. Even more so if this last coalition were to split. With what follows for the possibility of separate voting between councilor candidates and mayoral candidates.
These are the most important verdicts that emerged from the last Sunday of negotiations before the presentation of lists and candidatures for the vote on 8 and 9 June in Potenza and in the other 51 Lucanian centers called to renew mayors and municipal councils. Including Avigliano, Venosa, Scanzano Jonico, Tito, Nova Siri, Picerno, Marsicovetere, Maratea, Pietragalla, Viggiano and Rotonda.
The desire of the Five Star Movement to separate their path, in the capital, from that of the Democrats, was manifested yesterday in a lively meeting of the representatives of the Potenza territorial group, after the insistence of the Dems on Vincenzo Telesca’s candidacy for mayor. Despite the attempt carried out by the representative of Basilicata Possible, Valerio Tramutoli, to identify a third personality, such as Pignatari, to try to recompose the “progressive front” inaugurated, without too much luck, for the regional elections of 21 and 22 April.
Furthermore, Potenza’s is only the latest rift recorded between the promised allies in view of the next round of administrative elections. And almost always due to a “third wheel” like the former lay Catholics of Basilicata’s common house, who occupied the scene for months in view of the vote on Via Verrastro. Convincing the Dems to support the candidacy of “their” Angelo Chiorazzo for governor, up to the de facto commissionership of the Lucanian party, and the “forced” agreement with the 5 stars, and the others, on Piero Marrese.
In Avigliano, in fact, the pentastellati would have already withdrawn from the match altogether, after having seen the PD reject the proposal of the former general director of the ASP, Lorenzo Bochicchio, as a candidate for mayor. A rejection that would have been induced by the “Chiarozziani” themselves, to favor the candidacy of a closer personality such as the former regional secretary of the Uil, Carmine Vaccaro. So there should be at least three competing for the slot: him, Vaccaro; then the last elected mayor, the Northern League member Giuseppe Mecca, also supported by a part of the Basilicata common house, in the person of his former councillor, Federica D’Andrea; and Mecca’s rival in the last elections, Angelo Summa, supported by some dissident democrats and another piece of the centre-right.
In Venosa, however, the outgoing mayor Marianna Iovanni, of the 5 Star Movement, will have to deal with it alone to win the second mandate. Because the Democratic Party, and Basilicata’s common home, would have decided to support the candidacy of the former president of the regional council Franco Mollica, who had just left Action contesting the choice of the Lucanian Calendians to ally themselves with the center-right, in the regional elections.
During the day, even the residual doubts about Pignatari’s determination to get to the bottom of the electoral dispute should be dispelled, once and for all. To avoid the repetition of sudden steps backwards as happened during the regional elections with the ophthalmologist Domenico Lacerenza.
The bulk of the wait, however, will be aimed at the centre-right, with the majority meeting called by the outgoing mayor in the afternoon.
Guarente’s objective would be to thwart the birth of the second area candidacy, after the protests and complaints sparked by the green light given to him by the national leaders of the coalition for the race for a second term as mayor.
In any case, the rebels would be joined above all by the centrists of Italia viva and Azione. Evidently insensitive to the Roman team orders of the new allies, and far from scared of possible repercussions on the appointments that the newly re-elected governor, Vito Bardi, is about to make in the Region. While the moderates close to the former president of the city council Francesco Cannizzaro would have decided to remain within the historic coalition.
There are also several rumors about possible alternative mayoral candidates. Among those who would be ready to take the field, however, the outgoing regional councilor Alessandro Galella (FdI) stands out, having been in open disagreement with his party for days over the choice not to allow him to run for the tricolor band in his city and to support Guarente . A disagreement that is difficult to resolve, despite Galella’s imminent entry into the Lucanian parliament, the first of those not elected on the list of Melonians in the regional elections, as a substitute councilor. As soon as the new council led by governor Vito Bardi is composed.
