Article by Peppe Lizzio.
The definitive results of the European elections in Ragusa allow some reflections with an exquisitely political flavour. Certainly, one cannot help but start from the desolate record that sees Ragusa in last place among the provincial capitals for low voter turnout. Just 31% of Ragusans went to vote.
A fact which is in some ways worrying, but which finds its reason for being in the circumstance that for six years now the City has been anesthetized by the phenomenon of “civism”, more or less superficial, which Mayor Cassì has imposed.
Now, in an electoral round, such as that of the European elections where everything is played out on purely “partisan” competition, the voter who has lost the taste and pleasure of voting for traditional parties is unlikely to go to vote.
The traditional parties, Fratelli d’Italia, Democratic Party and above all Forza Italia must rediscover a new and strong attractive capacity, which also involves a profound renewal of political personnel.
New faces, new leaderships are an essential element for a new party season in Ragusa that reawakens voter participation.
This is certainly a long and difficult job but it must be implemented immediately.
In this disheartening current context, the data nevertheless confirms that in Ragusa Fratelli d’Italia is the first party, followed by the Democratic Party and the 5 Star Movement. FDI is confirmed
first party with 24.20% equal to 4,797 list votes. According to the Democratic Party with 22.67% with 4,456 preferences on the list. The M5S is third with 17.73% equal to 3,486 votes, followed by Forza Italia with 10.97% equal to 2,157 votes. The Greens and Left Alliance follow with 6.55% equal to 1287 votes. The League took home 4.91% equal to 966 votes for the list. A paltry 4.83 marks Cateno De Luca’s Libertà list which garners just 949 votes.
Of particular interest is the data on preferences, because on this data many of the actors involved had to demonstrate their real and not presumed political weight. On this ground, the one who certainly comes out badly battered is Mayor Cassi.
It is known, in fact, that Mayor Cassi in this electoral campaign for the European elections more or less secretly supported the regional councilor Marco Falcone. Candidate on the Forza Italia list
According to some recurring rumors, Mayor Cassì even committed to having at least 2000 preference votes flow to candidate Falcone.
However, in Ragusa Falcone simply garnered 450 votes against Tamajo’s 670.
Everyone here, then the political weight of Mayor Cassi?
On this point, particularly interesting scenarios open up due to the possible effects that the support given, even if insufficient, could entail.
First of all, the false civility of the Mayor of Ragusa has definitively fallen, as he now communicates with the parties, once defined as “empty shells”, but which are now useful for the pursuit of his political aims. All this was amply demonstrated by the recent, strange alliance between Cassi’s majority and the Democratic Party for the approval of the city’s new master plan.
It is logical that Mayor Cassi is determined to dialogue with the parties, if we consider his political future. In any other electoral competition, Cassi will need to find a “partisan” position, and it will be at that moment that the mask of his false civility will definitively fall away.
It could be said that, in these European elections, Mayor Cassi has already worked to identify in Forza Italia that possible party that could be useful to him in the future. However, strong critical issues and notable problems arise regarding the chosen candidate who was the loser in the all-internal Forza Italia derby.
Unless this support was not the result, as rumored in the corridors of Palazzo di Città, of the last “fruitful” political contact that Cassi can enjoy at Palermo level.
As a citizen, he is in fact disliked by the parties and has very few “useful” contacts with the Region and the recent story of the small funding allocated to Ragusa within the Development and Cohesion Fund (FSC 2022/2027, nor is there proven proof .
In the last period, the political closeness of the Mayor to Councilor Falcone has allowed Cassì to collect some residual regional financing, for example the funds for the purchase of Villa Ottaviano in Marina di Ragusa and some other financing.
But all this can justify a presumed support for a losing candidate.
Mayor Cassi should, precisely in light of the results of the Ragusa polls, carry out a strong and clear transparency operation, publicly denying the rumors regarding his underground/alleged support for the candidate Falcone.
All this is due to the City which, a year ago, renewed its consensus on him precisely on the basis of an electoral campaign based on civility and far from party and personal logic. If this denial does not arrive, it would be further proof that Mayor Cassi has definitively taken the path of professional politician.
