Great satisfaction in the PD house in Via della Lirica in Ravenna after the result of the European elections and the 2024 local elections, which ended 13 – 1 for the centre-left. The dem secretary Alessandro Barattoni and the most voted mayor, Valentina Palli, re-elected in Russi with over 75% of the votes, appear beaming in front of the journalists.
“There is great satisfaction with the vote. We won because we presented a new ruling class and we remained united. – Barattoni said – We have created political coalitions everywhere, including civic forces, without transformation and without hiding behind civic candidates as others have done, who have not been rewarded. We have elected 13 mayors whose average age is around 40. We carried out an effective electoral campaign, among the people and all together.”
Barattoni thanks all the dem secretaries of the various municipalities and also the other parties with which the PD has loyally collaborated. And he mentions Conselice and Sant’Agata, as well as Lugo, Cervia and Russi, among the municipalities where the results were best.
Valentina Palli underlines the value of the unity that characterized the lists and proposals: “I always see the glass full. Now the glass is full of satisfaction but also of responsibility. And the first is to continue to be close to citizens, especially those affected by the floods, so that they can receive 100% of the promised reimbursements. The flood has often been exploited in this electoral campaign, even in a crude manner. We heard inadmissible words from Deputy Minister Bignami. We will continue to strive to be alongside all citizens, without exception.”
STILL ON BIGNAMI
“In the speech at Castel Bolognese – Barattoni recalled – the deputy minister said that this is the moment to get on the bandwagon of the Meloni Government, to take advantage of it also in the municipalities. These are serious words, which you will never hear from us. You don’t govern to give advantages to those who support you.”
ON BRISIGHELLA
Here the outgoing centre-right mayor won by 19 votes. There are 68 null ballots. It was asked whether the PD would want to appeal to recount the votes. After thanking the candidate Loris Naldoni who almost won in the right-wing stronghold, and obtained a great result, Barattoni said “we are evaluating”. The possibility is therefore not excluded.
ON THE REGIONAL ELECTIONS AND THE POSSIBLE CANDIDATURE OF MICHELE DE PASCALE
Alessandro Barattoni he said that the regional elections, which will be held before the end of the year, are now starting to be discussed. Obviously Ravenna will be involved, but he did not say anything about the possible candidacy of Michele de Pascale: “the summary on the candidacy for the Region is done at another level, which is not ours. The candidate who will run to succeed Stefano Bonaccini is not decided in Ravenna.”
With the microphones turned off, in the dem house in Ravenna everyone is aiming to have a man from Ravenna at the helm of the Region.
ON THE NEW LEADING CLASS OF THE PD
“For years they have described us as those who remained on their feet thanks to the vote of pensioners, but all the statistics say that we are the most voted by those under 35. Precisely for this reason we have renewed ourselves and worked to build a new ruling class, which it is done over time and cannot be improvised six months after the vote.” Thus the Democratic secretary. Valentina Palli added: “I looked around in recent years and on the other side I didn’t see anyone who was committed to the community, not even during the dramatic period of the flood. Then six months after the vote a candidate emerges. I think that a ruling class emerges from work among people and in institutions, from commitment in the field. You can’t improvise.”
And Barattoni added: “The right cannot think of solving the problem of its ruling class by focusing on a street address a few months before the vote, with transformation operations, hiding behind that street address and pretending not to be there.”
SCHLEIN EFFECT
“The Schlein effect was important – Barattoni said – but the spirit of unity that animated the PD throughout this phase was also important. And also the pluralism that was expressed in the lists.”
