In Avellino, the only Campania capital called to vote, they will compete in the runoff Antonio Gengaro candidate from the broad field and the outgoing deputy mayor Laura Nargi. A challenge which is not evidence of controversy linked to the judicial implications of the “Dolce Vita” Prosecutor’s investigation: divided into several strands, it brought to light a business system, according to the prosecution, aimed at disrupting the public evidence procedures of the municipal administration, to the conditioning of the awarding of contracts for the main services and to the patronage distribution of assignments to entrepreneurs and professionals close to the administration and finally, to the alteration of the competitive procedures for the recruitment of municipal staff.
The investigations revealed that «in the exercise of his functions as deputy mayor and municipal councilor, Laura Nargi, participated in the criminal association, due to his privileged relationships with the former mayor Festa, favoring, through the role he played at Palazzo di Città, the awarding of contracts to private entities close to the administration and the violations of law in insolvency proceedings”. In these few lines, the Prosecutor’s Office outlines the role attributed to it by the investigators, according to whom, in the exercise of his functions, Festa’s former deputy would have had a part in the criminal association with the mayor in charge, as also reiterated by the Board of Review of Naples in the ordinance that confirmed the arrests of the mayor.
«No specific charges»
But Nargi, despite being under investigation at large, decided to become the first female mayor of Avellino. A belief strengthened by reading the documents filed by the Prosecutor’s Office during the appeal to the Review Court to obtain the annulment of the seizure of the mobile phone and computer. When, argue his lawyers, Luigi Petrillo and Costantino Sabatino, it becomes «clear from the evidence made available to the Court that There are no specific charges against him, nor evidence that justifies a trial prognosis.” Therefore, precisely in order to avoid shadows on his person, the former deputy mayor had deemed it appropriate to renounce the request for the return of the mobile phone to facilitate and enable all investigations.
The political clash
But the “Dolce Vita” investigation has continued to inflame the political conflict since April 18th, the day of the arrest of former mayor Festa, and even more so a few days before the ballot. Raising the moral question is the centre-left candidate who once again challenges his rival to a public confrontation. «If Laura Nargi was an accomplice or an unwitting actor in the power system of the Giunta Festa that devastated the city, the citizens have the right to know – accuses Gengaro – a moment later we can talk about two different ideas of the city and of programs. But in my opinion the priority for the people of Avellino is to understand who they intend to entrust the fate of the capital to.” Nargi replies with a firm tone to her challenger. «Stop posing as a moralist and moralizer because eventually trials will establish the judicial truth about our former administration and, always eventually, these will be celebrated in the courtrooms. He cannot replace justice. The political fact is that the citizens have already declared the failure of Gengaro and the center-left and the appreciation we have received from the voters is proof of this. I advise my challenger to start talking about ideas and proposals. He continues to smear me with the aim of insinuating doubt in the voters.”
