Forlì, 12 June 2024 – “We won’t be able to take too long, but we won’t be able to rush either. From arrived we haven’t talked yet”, assures the mayor Gian Luca Zattini in the aftermath of the first round victory. With what criteria? “Preferences will matter. Some elected councilors they also have the right skills to join the council. I don’t rule out fishing though even outside the council. But we will have to think together with the coalition about the numbers.”
On the left, Vincenzo Bongiorno: 44 years old, Forlì coordinator of Giorgia Meloni’s party, was head of the list; Kevin Bravi (Forlì Cambia), 37 year old entrepreneur, was president of the youth of Confindustria. He could have the delegation at the center; Daniele Mezzacapo (Lega), 44 years old, outgoing deputy mayor with responsibilities for urban planning, safety and sport; Andrea Cintorino (Lega), 33 years old, outgoing councilor for the historic center; Giuseppe Petetta (Forza Italia), 61 years old, outgoing councilor for the Environment and Roads
In his last interview before the vote, to Carlino, he added another criterion: “I won’t let myself be given pre-packaged dishes by the parties”. The first issue, in any case, is how many seats and representing whom. The outgoing council was made up of nine councillors: of these, at least four women. One of these is (and will be) the most obvious of the confirmations : Paola Casara , around 1250 votes, the most voted ever. Sources close to the administration say that you would like to maintain the mandates for education and productive activities, which you did not want to change even on the occasion of the reshuffle in autumn 2022. Will you be the deputy mayor? No. In some ways the civic component is already represented at the highest level by Zattini himself. And that place, in the agreements made the day before, was already ‘optioned’: it will be up to Vincenzo Bongiorno , 44-year-old journalist, former president (he had to resign before running for office) of Forlì Integrated Mobility, who in 1999 was the youngest post-war city councilor, just 19 years old. Bongiorno is also the municipal coordinator of Fratelli d’Italia, the first party in the coalition with 19%: he himself confirmed the expectations by obtaining 624 preferences as the leader. Catholic, he is close to Communion and Liberation.
On purpose of numbers: how many council positions will go to Civica? And to Brothers of Italy? Going up from 10.8 to 14.5%, it is obvious that there will be at least one other councilor: the hot name is that of Kevin Well done , 325 votes, the second after Casara, 37 year old entrepreneur in the fashion sector, former president of the youth of Confindustria. According to rumours, he could be given responsibility for the historic centre. Other names circulating: Matteo Leucci to sport (he is a teacher and manager of the Buscherini sports center in via Orceoli); Simone Valmori president of the diocesan interreligious institute of Bertinoro, close to Comunione e Liberazione, is also a writer: he was not on the list but could be a marketable name for culture.
In the party by Giorgia Meloni seems like an authoritative name Marco Catalano , outgoing councilor, with a delegation (that of the Pnrr) to which Zattini gives absolute priority and which may require continuity. With 454 votes, the lawyer passed the ballot test.
If between the fixed points of the council are probably included Vittorio Cicognani (budget and public works, very loyal to Zattini since the Municipality of Meldola; he was not a candidate on any list) and Giuseppe Petetta (environment; he is the second most voted in Forza Italia), it must be deciphered what will happen in the Lega. Compared to the European elections, the Northern League has overtaken Forza Italia; confirmed the two outgoing councilors on the council through preferences Daniele Mezzacapo And Andrea Cintorino , voted ‘in tandem’, 459 for him, 458 for her. Insiders predict that the Romagna secretary Jacopo Morrone, to whom Zattini owes his first candidacy, will sit at the table asking for two seats, for both of them. The numbers obtained individually – 1 difference card – are very respectable; but it is likely that someone will point out that the League would confirm the same team as when, 5 years ago, it had 24%, almost triple what it is today. And then, at that point, Forza Italia (3 councilors like the League) could also raise their requests. So just one councillor? Among the allies, there are those who would see better Massimiliano Pompignoli (309). However, the regional councilor could stand for re-nomination in Emilia-Romagna in a few months. However, the delegations must all be evaluated.
Another theme : having said that councilor Maria Pia Baroni (another Zattini loyalist; delegate to staff) has already called herself out, what will happen next? Valerio Melandri ? In 2019 the mayor called him at the last minute. He also has many projects on the table. However, Zattini will have to take into account the parties’ requests. The head of Culture doesn’t have any party behind him (other than a long-gone liking for the League, of which he is not a member anyway). If he were to remain out of the Zattini bis, the delegation to culture could go to Vincenzo Bongiorno.
Last hot seat: who will be the president of the city council? The outgoing one, Alessandra Ascari Raccagni , should be included in the Civica patrol if Casara and Bravi (or Leucci) are on the council. Other names: already in 2019 there was talk of Marco Catalano, if he doesn’t go to the council; alternatively, FdI could put forward a name with long political militancy such as Fabrizio Ragni .
 deputy mayor. Civica, Bravi is also in the running. The Mezzacapo-Cintorino knot){kind=link}