Sassari Goodbye to politics, in which he was only passing through. And already at work in his beloved university and on the papers of a trial that he can’t wait to face, to demonstrate his total innocence. All this after a defeat that leaves him calm, largely due to a centre-right that started from scratch, and has yet to structure itself in the city, but which has a future.
The rector breaks the silence Gavino Mariotti9828 votes in the last municipal elections and 16.14% for his centre-right coalition which made many cry out for failure.
Was it a failure?
«It was an indisputable defeat, which as a convinced democrat I accept with serenity. But bringing 5 councilors to the city council, including three from FdI for the first time in the chamber, and one from Forza Italia who wasn’t there last term, and getting 900 votes more than the coalition, I don’t consider it a failure.”
But he leaves.
«Yes, I am leaving politics in which I was only passing through. And I’m going back to doing the best job in the world at my beloved university.”
Lucchi says that during the election campaign he only talked about that.
«Lucchi should read our program and be told about the 22 in-depth meetings we held on each single topic. Dozens of projects for which we also indicate where to go to get the funds.”
Weren’t you cousins?
«Evidently things have changed, and not on our part. Maybe he was sorry to hear me say that I found Sassari in disastrous conditions, also destroyed morally, inevitably also through their fault. But I think the reason is another.”
Which?
«During this electoral campaign I had the clear sensation of being a foreign body in a well-established and transversal system, and of not being welcome for this. I’ve certainly had all sorts of things happen to me.”
Are you talking about the Monte Nuovo investigation for mafia association which sees you among the suspects?
«I can’t wait to get to the trial to defend myself and dismantle the accusative theorem against me. The cards are already ready. Of course, the news of the closure of the investigation a few days before the start of the election campaign didn’t help me. And it made me lose a lot of enthusiasm.”
It also angered a couple of rappers.
«I don’t even know them. A lot of talk about a prank of which I was the victim and not the perpetrator, which burst like a soap bubble. Nothing but requests for compensation.”
It won’t mean that he lost because of this.
“No. I lost because I was unable to convey the message of the seriousness and depth of our proposal for Sassari. And because perhaps it was a mistake to talk in such detail about every single aspect instead of taking refuge behind easy slogans. And I lost because the center-right in the city is starting a journey, which however is still long.”
Is there a centre-right in Sassari?
«I found many good, competent and motivated people. Many young people who want to get involved. They asked me to be their mother hen, they will do well even without me. They certainly won’t be the ones to melt like snow in the sun.”
Are you talking about civics?
«The only civic figure I want to talk about is Antonello Peru, he has a programme, the structure and the votes. Compliments”.
What relationship will he have with the new mayor after being his opponent?
«We ran a very correct electoral campaign. And I was the first to congratulate Mascia, who did the same. And in any case we are talking about the mayor and the rector, two top-level institutional roles who have the duty, as well as the pleasure, to always and only work for the good of the city.”
What idea should he steal from her?
«Remove the cars from University Square. I tried with Campus for 5 years without success. I’m bringing 650 employees to that square, the only university secretariat. The rebirth of the historic center can also start from there.”
The priority?
«The historic center precisely. It must be repopulated, made safe. Turning it around every corner was a source of pain and worry for me but also of hope for the great beauty that remained. Let’s start from there, and the mayor knows that the university is firmly at his side.”
When we heard about her candidacy, we asked her who made her do it.
«I’ve thought about it these days. Maybe you were right. But in the end it is better to fall chasing a dream than never dreaming.”
