“The Neighborhood 2 of Florence is my homeI have lived here since I arrived in Italy, I work here and I have my friends and family here.” Georgeta (Giorgia) Farcas Guerzoni was born in 1975 in Romania (“in the region of Transylvania, the most beautiful”), she graduated in economic sciences, commerce and marketing and arrived in Italy when she was 32 years old, with an 8-year career as an economist in her country of origin behind her. “The title is enough there, there are no temporary courses, apprenticeships or internships to do”, she tells us.
Giorgia, why did you decide to come and stay in Italy?
“I came and stayed for love: on holiday in Italy I met the man who would later become my husband. But it wasn’t easy, I found myself facing one problem above all: I hadn’t come for work, so I had to find one to stay.”
What kind of difficulties did you encounter?
“I went through a job placement process, I was convinced I would find a job soon. Instead, nothing. Everywhere, despite perhaps having the required skills, despite appearing Italian in every way, being 32 years old I was no longer old enough to be an apprentice. I started knocking on all the doors in the neighborhood, on bars and restaurants. In the end they hired me to do it waitress, which I did until 7 years ago when my father got ill and wanting to return to Romania more often was irreconcilable. Then I became domestic worker: I admit that it wasn’t a simple choice, but then when you find the right families, with whom you feel comfortable, everything is easier. Furthermore, I help out with the accounting for my husband who has a small laundry company. This is where my degree and role as an economist come in handy.”
How did you come to apply?
“I do not have never been involved in politics, neither here nor in Romania. I have known Barbara Nanucci, until now councilor of district 3 and now candidate for the Municipality. She is the one who proposed the candidacy to Quartiere 2. We have known each other for many years, with her I do social volunteering ever since I arrived in Florence. You are a person with extraordinary human values and when you asked me to join your team I accepted.”
Why did you choose the League?
“Despite never having been active in politics I have always identified with the Right. Having been born and having lived in a country under Communism, sadly, I could not do otherwise. But I didn’t have a party preference. Then I met, through Nannucci, the League and I understood that this party represents me because it makes me feel protected. Let me explain better: what in my opinion is important is that it is a party that loves the Italian people and foreigners who respect the laws and customs of this country. I do not have I’ve never had any problems with being a foreigner, but no one gave me anything, I rolled up my sleeves and earned a place in society by looking for a job and working honestly. And instead I was impressed by the ease with which some foreign people can access services compared to Italians themselves and others who come from different countries, and here I get involved too.”
What do you mean?
“It is not possible for fragile people or people with lower incomes, Italian or other nationalities, to be given a pass instead by foreigners who are not looking for a job, do not try to learn our language, do not pay taxes and perhaps demand that their rights be recognized without, however, committing themselves to contributing in any way to Italy. If we talk about discrimination in Italy also exists among foreigners: I have a degree, I came here and looked for work, with great difficulty. Nobody, I repeat, gave me anything, I did everything by myself. A politician must first provide for his people, like a mother, let’s say, who first thinks of his child and then takes care of him, and it is right that she does so, she must do so within the limits of his, his neighbor’s, possibilities. Italy is a big family: I want to live here and I will die here, I feel Italian, I want to feel protected and supported as a citizen by those who govern me. And I feel in touch with the League.”
What do you criticize the Italian Left? And in general, is there anything you don’t like about Italian politics?
“On the Left I criticize the do-goodism, which seems false to me, not authentic. I see people who are well and who do not actually deal with those who are worse off, as they say they are doing. What is professed is not put into practice. They ask us to be good and welcoming to everyone, but I think we should first of all think about mutual respect and the values of this country.
Regarding politics, one thing that I have noticed especially in these months of election campaign and that I really don’t like is that they often ‘arrive’ – in the sense that they obtain roles of power and prestige – people who have the right connections rather than those who really work hard, in general in all parties this. There isn’t much meritocracy. And, given that there will also be European elections, also the fact that decisions for Italy are often made on the basis of what is established by European bureaucrats who do not represent us: I I am in favor of Europebut of that Europe of solidarity that deals with countries and peoples in difficulty, not with the interests of the banks”.
He told us that he had done volunteer work for years: what kind?
“Yes, let’s say I am sensitive to the cause of the weakest and most vulnerable. I started with the animals because unfortunately in Romania there are a lot of strays and with my family I have always helped in feeding and sterilizing these dogs. And even now when I go with my husband we wander the streets to feed the animals that have no owners. Here in Italy, however, I took part in the food collection in stores from donate to kennels and catteries. As for volunteering for people we have one non-profit with which we collect e we distribute aid and food to the most disadvantaged families. Before we were able to bring them directly, now there are few of us and they are the ones who come to the office to collect the package we prepare every month”.
Giorgia, have you ever felt discriminated against?
“No, I would say no. The only thing that happened to me, in the early days, probably because I didn’t speak much Italian, was that the people I turned to on the street to ask for something, for help, didn’t listen to me. It’s not that they didn’t answer me, really they ignored me. Other things aren’t.”
What are the objectives you have set yourself if you are elected?
“I start from the fact that I love this neighborhood, I have my whole life here. A neighborhood councilor can’t do much, but what he can do is check. There are many episodes here baby gang, it also happened to the son of the family where I work now; not to mention dealingOf degradationthere are areas where it’s scary to go because there are dangerous people who instead do everything.
However, one thing I would like to do is give some support to the residents of public housing.
Then I live in the Cure area and there are many traffic problems, towards the stadium there are construction sites for the tram: here I am I would oppose the felling of trees in Viale dei Mille, because there are already few green areas and it is very hot especially in summer, so if you also remove these I don’t know what the environment could become.
Then any work that is done for the city is fine, as long as it is checked and there is no waste of public money. In my opinion, this must be a fundamental point for those elected.”
