For the municipal elections of Potenza, the broad centre-right is back; Fanelli’s candidacy for Guarente’s position is official. Action and UDC also join forces
POTENZA – The change in the role of mayoral candidate was enough to revive in Potenza the broad centre-right successfully tested in the regional elections on 21 and 22 April. In view of the vote of 8 and 9 June.
Yesterday morning, in fact, the declaration of support also arrived from the last centrist dissidents, who on Monday had threatened the birth of a “pole of leaders” against a second mandate of the outgoing mayor, the 40-year-old Northern League member Mario Guarente.
Around the candidacy for mayor of the 42-year-old Francesco Fanelli, therefore, will find Lega, FdI, Fi and the Renzians of Italia viva, who already on Tuesday evening had embraced the “new course”, plus Action, Udc and DC with Rotondi. A coalition similar to the one that pushed governor Vito Bardi to his second presidential term, but which will have to deal with two significant variables. Capable of reopening a game that might otherwise appear obvious.
First of all, the run-off scheduled for 22 and 23 June for municipalities with more than 15 thousand inhabitants, in the event that none of the mayoral candidates manage to immediately obtain more than 50% of the vote. Hence the disjointed vote in the first round, which could drain consensus especially from the latest arrivals in the centre-right towards mayoral candidates who are more similar, on an ideal level, to the Northern League member Fanelli.
Factors that could even influence the race for access to the ballot between the 3 candidates that emerged from the premature death of the “progressive front” led by the Pd-M5s. Three outgoing city councilors, to be precise: the 48-year-old Vincenzo Telesca, supported by the Democratic Party, the former lay Catholics of Basilicata common house, and civic circles close to the historic mayor Tanino Fierro; the 34 year old Pierluigi Smaldone, supported by Movimento 5 stelle, Verdi, Potenza civica 1860 and other civic forces united under the sign “Potenza returns”; and the 40-year-old Francesco Giuzio, supported by La Basilicata Possible and the Italian Left.
«I worked for five years with dedication and seriousness for the city of Potenza. Five years marked by the Covid pandemic which inevitably slowed down and slowed down projects and programs, but which did not prevent extraordinary results from being achieved.”
These are the words with which Guarente, a moment before the official announcement of Fanelli’s candidacy, took leave of his fellow citizens. Those same fellow citizens who in all likelihood have not forgiven him for a less than accommodating attitude on a series of issues well symbolized by the hated speed camera in Via Varco d’Izzo. A machine capable of replenishing the coffers of a municipality that has gone bankrupt twice in twenty years, which was perceived by many as a hidden tax paid by motorists.
«It was an experience – added the outgoing mayor – which always saw me involved on the front line to try to give due credit to a community with widespread interests, which I tried to protect with attention and respect. I noted with satisfaction the desire of the national and local leaders of the League, Fratelli d’Italia, Forza Italia and Noi Moderate, to reconfirm me as a coalition candidate also for the next electoral round. To date, once again, my sense of responsibility leads me, however, to have to make a choice that goes in the direction of favoring the enlargement of the center-right, in order to give the future city government a majority that is as large and stable as possible . For this reason I said I was willing to take a step aside if necessary to replicate the centre-right model proposed in the recent regional elections and a winning result.”
“I have never put my personal interests first, and I certainly won’t start doing so now.” Guarente concluded. «Potenza, my city, which I was honored to represent as mayor, deserves wise choices. With the certainty that this generosity of mine will allow us to identify the best mayoral candidate for the capital city of the Region.”
Words of appreciation for the “beau geste” performed by the outgoing mayor, apparently without any guarantee of compensation assignments, arrived yesterday, in a joint note, from the Lucanian secretariats of Lega, Fratelli d’Italia, Forza Italia, Noi Moderates, Italia Viva and Popolari united.
The regional coordinator of the League, Pasquale Pepe, spoke of an “admirable sense of responsibility in the interest of the capital and its citizens”, who also underlined the “fraternal” relationship that unites Guarente and Fanelli.
«We take note of the generosity shown by Mayor Guarente whose political abilities we have never questioned and whose position did not present an essential variable for us for enlargement». So instead Action, UDC and DC with Rotondi, who said they were ready to meet the leaders of the other parties in the coalition for “a programmatic agreement” on Potenza. On the model of the one stipulated with Bardi on the occasion of the electoral campaign for the regional elections.
The wife of the outgoing mayor, Annamaria Sinisi, is also proud of the sense of responsibility demonstrated, who yesterday put aside the confidentiality respected in these 5 years with a post of encouragement on Facebook.
«Potenza for you belongs only to the people of Potenza, and for this community you have always done the best possible, putting your face to it without any mask». This is the message shared by the pharmacist, with a photo of her with her husband adorned with the tricolor sash.
“It was a great honor and a beautiful adventure, even for me who accompanied you.” Sinisi added. «We are, and will be, many of us who will always be proudly at your side, Mario».
