Lecce, the sensational success of Adriana Poli Bortone sends the left into a tailspin

At 81 years old Adriana Poli Bortone it could be the only one to be able to defeat the power system of Emiliano and Decaro that grips the Puglia region from the municipalities to Brussels. Just her, historical enemy of Raffaele Fitto, who in 2010 and 2015 ran independently, breaking the center-right, and handing Puglia first to Vendola and then to Emiliano. Today the united center-right has overcome the old grudges by nominating her for mayor of Lecce. And she managed to beat the outgoing mayor Carlo Salvemini. But by only a hundred votes she did not win in the first round, arriving at 49.64% ahead of the outgoing mayor of the united center-left (including 5s) who stood at 47%. With an appeal to the TAR presented by her for many votes arbitrarily cancelled. Yesterday there was a recount in 4 sections, and today in three more. There are a total of 2200 votes at stake, the balance of power to decide victory in the first round or run-off. The operations and with them the mysteries of these hours are a direct consequence of anomalies brought to light during the first count. Inconsistencies between voting numbers, verified ballots, canceled ballots. The data included in last night’s minutes would have revealed anomalies in the ministerial electronic system.

An almost surprising victory, in a city that loves it very much, but which for years, despite investigations, scandals and stagnation, has not been able to free itself from the consolidated system of patronage power of the centre-left which governs the region, controlling all the elections from the small municipalities in Brussels. And instead Adriana Poli Bortone, with her bare hands, managed to defeat the mayor Carlo Salvemini, after having defeated the outgoing mayor Stefano Salvemini, father of the current one, in 1998. And becoming mayor of Lecce. History today could repeat itself in the same way. Adriana Poli Bortone, the lady of the Apulian right, was elected for the first time to the Lecce city council in 1967 with the MSI, and always reconfirmed until 1998 when she became mayor. She has been a deputy, senator, and prime minister Berlusconi government.

A student of Almirante, she made her way into a right where at the time women were truly white flies. And in this she was the precursor of Giorgia Meloni. Before Raffalele Fitto (who had never been in the right-wing parties as he was a Christian Democrat) his bitterest local internal enemy was the current undersecretary Alfredo Mantovano. Today they were all united for her, and even Arianna Meloni arrived in the city to support her. While the outgoing mayor suffers from the lack of a communication agency that pushes him with tears and cameras, as was done with Decaro who became very popular despite his political scarcity. Salvemini he had won the primaries dancing the pizzica on stage with Emiliano and Decaro. Here, however, we are far from old Bari, and there are no boss sisters to ask for “protection”. But if Adriana Poli Bortone does not win in the first round by one hundred votes, surely Schelin, Conte, Emiliano, Vendola, Decaro, CGIL, Anpi and company will be ready to descend on Lecce against the arrival of the right.