“I agreed to submit my application for the city council of Bari”. This is the announcement of the former rector of the University of Foggia, Giuliano Volpearchaeologist originally from Terlizzi, still operating in Capitanata in some excavation campaigns.
Now here is the electoral challenge in support of the candidate Michele Laforgia, well-known criminal lawyer from Bari, supported by the 5 Star Movement: “I did it because Michele Laforgia asked me to, whom I respect as a person, as a professional, as a citizen with a great political passion who has always been involved in the city with grassroots civic participation initiatives – explains Volpe on social media -. I did it because many friends and colleagues I respect (who I won’t name but who I’m sure will also publicly express their support) urged me, convincing me to sweep away my last hesitations.
I did it above all because I am convinced that there are moments in which it is necessary to make your own contribution by putting your face to it: this is one of those moments. Bari, which has experienced, in the context of the whole of Puglia, an undeniable process of growth and improvement, recognized by all and for which we must be grateful to the mayor Antonio Decaro and to the local and regional centre-left administrations of the last twenty years, risks going backwards, of being reconquered by the right, or rather by the worst right: that of the League which wants differentiated autonomy which will split Italy and heavily damage the South, that of the Brothers of Italy who wants the reform of the premiership which will upset the democratic constitutional structure, not to mention the set of retroactive and harmful policies in the economic, social and cultural fields. The match played in Bari is fundamental for the city and for Puglia but also has a very strong national significance.
I also did it because I am convinced that the progressive front needs a profound change, finally putting aside transformationism and opportunism which have unfortunately tarnished its image and substance, despite the good things done in recent years. A change is necessary, in the continuity of positive actions and in the decisive discontinuity of negative ones: I believe this change can be personified today by Michele Laforgia. But Michele cannot be left alone and anyone who believes in this project must, in various ways, make a contribution. I have also agreed to give it (but not only) with the candidacy in a civic list, made up of many beautiful expressions of Bari society, in which I feel fully at ease because these are people who spend themselves without any interest or personal gain .
I did it because I have always been animated by a “political” passion, even as an archaeologist, a professor, the rector of a university in a city and in an area that is not as easy as that of Foggia, the president of the Superior Council of Goods cultural and landscape projects of MiBACT (now MiC) and in many other forms of cultural and civil commitment.
I did it because I believe, or at least hope, to be able to make an effective contribution in the fields in which I have built a certain expertise: training, university (so that Bari becomes a true university city, hospitable, with services and opportunities for Italian and foreign students), research, protection, valorisation and management of cultural heritage, cultural and creative entrepreneurship, cultural activities (not to be understood only as events and shows), cultural tourism (cultured tourism – which does not mean elite tourism but quality tourism – against the looming risks of consumer tourism), youth policies.
Michele asked me to help out, without promising anything. I accepted, despite my many commitments, without me asking him anything, as all the other candidates did. I am blessed with a beautiful job. I returned to teaching and living in Bari after many years of working elsewhere and I have decided to invest my next few years to contribute to the growth of our universities (also with the establishment of a National Doctorate on cultural heritage which is based in Bari and the which twelve other universities and the CNR participate with many dozens of doctoral students), to the development of all forms of active participation in the care and valorisation of the cultural heritage, which belongs to everyone and not just to specialists, to a better quality of life in our city. Laforgia whom I respect as a person, as a professional, as a citizen with a great political passion who has always been involved in the city with grassroots civic participation initiatives.
I did it because many friends and colleagues I respect (who I won’t name but who I’m sure will also publicly express their support) urged me, convincing me to sweep away my last hesitations.
I did it above all because I am convinced that there are moments in which it is necessary to make your own contribution by putting your face to it: this is one of those moments. Bari, which has experienced, in the context of the whole of Puglia, an undeniable process of growth and improvement, recognized by all and for which we must be grateful to the mayor Antonio Decaro and to the local and regional centre-left administrations of the last twenty years, risks going backwards, of being reconquered by the right, or rather by the worst right: that of the League which wants differentiated autonomy which will split Italy and heavily damage the South, that of the Brothers of Italy which wants the reform of the premiership which will upset the democratic constitutional structure, not to mention the set of retroactive and harmful policies in the economic, social and cultural fields. The match played in Bari is fundamental for the city and for Puglia but also has a very strong national significance.
I also did it because I am convinced that the progressive front needs a profound change, finally putting aside transformationism and opportunism which have unfortunately tarnished its image and substance, despite the good things done in recent years. A change is necessary, in the continuity of positive actions and in the decisive discontinuity of negative ones: I believe this change can be personified today by Michele Laforgia. But Michele cannot be left alone and anyone who believes in this project must, in various ways, make a contribution. I have also agreed to give it (but not only) with the candidacy in a civic list, made up of many beautiful expressions of Bari society, in which I feel fully at ease because these are people who spend themselves without any interest or personal gain .
I did it because I have always been animated by ‘political’ passion, even as an archaeologist, a professor, the rector of a university in a city and in an area that is not as easy as that of Foggia, the president of the Superior Council of Goods cultural and landscape activities of MiBACT (now MiC) and in many other forms of cultural and civil commitment.
I did it because I believe, or at least hope, to be able to make an effective contribution in the fields in which I have built a certain expertise: training, university (so that Bari becomes a true university city, hospitable, with services and opportunities for Italian and foreign students), research, protection, valorisation and management of cultural heritage, cultural and creative entrepreneurship, cultural activities (not to be understood only as events and shows), cultural tourism (cultured tourism – which does not mean elite tourism but quality tourism – against the looming risks of consumer tourism), youth policies.
Michele asked me to help out, without promising anything. I accepted, despite my many commitments, without me asking him anything, as all the other candidates did. I am blessed with a beautiful job. I returned to teaching and living in Bari after many years of working elsewhere and I have decided to invest my next few years to contribute to the growth of our universities (also with the establishment of a National Doctorate on cultural heritage which is based in Bari and the which twelve other universities and the Cnr with many dozens of doctoral students participate), to the development of all forms of active participation in the care and valorisation of the cultural heritage, which belongs to everyone and not just to specialists, to a better quality of life in our city.”
