The mafia is also present in the 654 pages of the precautionary custody order which led to the president of the Liguria Region Giovanni Toti being placed under house arrest. The investigation which accuses the governor of having sold out “his function and his powers” has a background from which emerges, not for him, a strand of electoral corruption aggravated precisely by the mafia’s purpose. While the plot described by the prosecutor Nicola Piacente and the investigating judge Paola Faggiani also affects the Esselunga supermarkets. Advertisements have arrived on Primo Canale for two supermarkets in Sestri Ponente and Savona. And the investigation for illicit financing against the publisher. It is the story of a free beach that becomes private for the needs of entrepreneurs.
The vote package
The investigation into Toti starts precisely from an investigation into the vote exchange. The La Spezia prosecutor’s office is working on a package of votes intended for the governor and coming from people who are originally from Riesi in the province of Caltanissetta. Promising the votes are the brothers Italo Maurizio and Arturo Angelo Testa. Who are exponents of Forza Italia in Lombardy, so much so that they are considered close to the regional coordinator Alessandro Sorte. In exchange for votes, according to the agreement, jobs should come. Toti’s current chief of staff Matteo Cozzani discusses Arturo Angelo Testa as a candidate, but then a photo of him giving the Roman salute next to a bust of Mussolini blows everything up. Then, when those present decide to divert the votes to Toti’s list, Cozzani says: “I wouldn’t want to find the Anti-Mafia Investigation Directorate on me.” The DDA accuses Cozzani and the Testa of the aggravating mafia charge.
The mortadella
«It’s like mortadella: little expense, high yield. Ten days later there are elections, once you’ve done that you block the number, thanks and goodbye”, advises Cozzani in an interception to Ilaria Cavo, former face of Mediaset and candidate who does not want to be seen at an electoral dinner with the riesini. Even if there will be 300 people. She, not investigated, is afraid that the presentation will result in countless requests for favors. And Cozzani, to convince her, explains her mechanism. The two brothers manage the Riesini association around the world and through it they channel votes into the territories. Then through Cozzani they get jobs at Cospe, the company that works for Iren. And in a subsequent meeting in which they talk about the electoral campaign of Bucci, mayor of Genoa, Cozzani says that “They’ll tear me apart”, referring to the resentment for the broken promises on jobs.
“They’re cutting me apart”
At that point Toti replies: “But why didn’t we give him any money?”. The governor is not accused of the aggravating mafia charge. Even if he himself, addressing the Testas, during an electoral dinner says: «I know you are bulldozers, let me give some votes to Ilaria Cavo». In the end, the vote for the region will be a triumph: Toti takes 56% of the preferences, surpasses the unitary candidate of the Pd and M5s Ferruccio Sansa and consolidates his supremacy over Liguria. Punta dell’Olmo beach is an even more difficult problem to solve. This time the Spinelli family has purchased a former colony on the promontory between Celle Ligure and Varazze. He wants to make us 48 luxury apartments by investing 100 million. But the beach in front is free. And then we need to privatize it. «I’m having lunch with Spinelli’s entire family. we need to find a solution for the beach. Let’s rationalize the free spaces that exist, let’s merge and move.”
The supermarket
Then he cashes out: «Look, we’ve solved your son’s problem, now let’s practice, it can be built… When will you invite me on the boat? So we talk a bit because now there are elections, we need a hand.” In the story of the events of Esselunga there is also room for a curious story. Francesco Moncada, board member and husband of Sylvia Caprotti, telephones speakerphone to Renato Brunetta, then minister of public administration, from Toti’s office who is present. «Listen Renato, I’m in Giovanni’s hands for these two supermarkets here and… so if we want to stock your wine you have to talk to Giovanni». And Giovanni, or Toti, brings the Esselunga supermarket to San Benigno.
