LAMEZIA TERME For some it is the possibility of finally exiting limbo, for others the definitive fall into hell. The presentation of the lists of candidates for mayor, in Calabria, is an opportunity to take stock of those Municipalities – which are often recurring – whose return to democracy is still postponed. This time too, in fact, we have to deal with anti-mafia access commissions and the dissolution of organizations due to the feared presence and interference of the ‘Ndrangheta gangs. And then there are those centers ready, finally, to turn the page and restore political power.
The Municipality of San Luca is once again plunged into chaos. At 12 today, in fact, no one actually showed up at the electoral office, effectively decreeing an imminent return to the commissionerate, after the 5 years of administration led by Bruno Bartolo who, just in the last few days, had dissolved the reserve and announced that he would not run. «One of the countries that symbolizes the moral and civil redemption of the whole of Calabria renounces calling citizens to the primary exercise of democracy» thundered Salvatore Zoccali, regional coordinator of the PRI. «Calabria – he continued – and Locride in particular, need to relaunch themselves starting from the function of the Mayors, an institutional bulwark, due to their place in the political-institutional system, no less for the authority that derives from the consensus of the citizens of the whose needs they are the reference! ». It should be remembered that Bruno Bartolo won the elections in 2019, giving San Luca an elected mayor again after 6 years. In 2013 there was a dissolution due to the infiltration of the ‘Ndrangheta and, in 2015, the only list presented had not reached the necessary 50%+1. The twenty-year mafia war, which culminated with the Duisburg massacre, made San Luca one of the most sadly known symbolic places of the ‘Ndrangheta.
Same risk also to Portigliola, another dissolved center for mafia infiltration. Here, however, despite the doubts, in the end two candidates dissolved their reservations: Rocco Luglio with the “New perspectives” list and Pasqualino Panetta, in the field with the list “Tomorrow is our commitment”. The Reggino center was dissolved due to alleged mafia infiltration in May 2022. The then mayor, Rocco Luglio, was especially targeted by the investigations, «whose functions – as reported in the prefectural report – went beyond the political-administrative competences of the position held, effectively summarizing in his person the overall and personalistic management of the local authority”. At the basis of the reasons for the dissolution were the «forms of interference by organized crime which compromise the free determination and impartiality of the elective bodies, the good performance of the administration and the functioning of the services, with serious prejudice to the public order and safety”.
Instead, it weighed the climate of uncertainty in Melissa, center of the province of Crotone where the two mayoral candidates, the outgoing Raffaele Falbo and the challenger Edoardo Rosati, and their coalitions, already had the lists ready but preferred not to deliver them. Just last May 8th the deadline for the activities of the Anti-Mafia Access Commission expired, therefore in time to be able to present the electoral lists, and was installed on November 9th 2023 by the prefect of Crotone, following the investigation that involved the The current mayor Raffaele Falbo is on trial for extortion aggravated by the desire to facilitate the associates of the Cirò gang. It will take at least three months before we know the outcome, with a possible dissolution that would still involve the Municipality of Melissa, even if a new administration is in office.
No uncertainty for the Municipality of Soriano Calabro, ready to turn the page after a long commissioner phase. Here, in fact, the elective bodies had been dissolved in June 2022, then the Lazio Regional Administrative Court had rejected the appeal against the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, the Ministry of the Interior and the Prefecture of Vibo, presented by the former mayor Vincenzo Bartone . Now, however, Francesco Bartone is returning to the political scene presenting himself again as a candidate for mayor of Soriano with the “La città del Sole” list. Antonio De Nardo, leader of the “Soriano Futura” movement, challenged him.
In the province of Vibono the “special” cases they were represented by the Municipalities of Mileto and Nicotera, both under the control of the Anti-Mafia Access Commission together with the long list that includes Stefanaconi, Philadelphia and Tropea. Even the Pearl of the Tyrrhenian Sea should have renewed its Council: everything was canceled and “postponed” between 12-18 months by the dissolution decree due to mafia infiltration issued last April 23rd. Precisely in Mileto there will be two candidates competing for the tricolor band: the outgoing Salvatore Mario Giordano in the field with the “Città Futura” list and Michele Rombolà, head of the “Eppur si move” alliance. In Nicotera, however, only one list was presented and it is that of the outgoing mayor Pino Marasco which also includes the justice witness Carmine Zappia. Here, as in Mileto and Melissa, the risk of “dissolution” following the work of the access commission is high and therefore no one else has decided to take the field. ([email protected])
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