Who would have thought that the Democratic Party in Puglia would achieve such results? The investigations of recent months seemed to announce the collapse. Instead Decaro drags the PD, in the South, in Puglia, a little less in Capitanata.
In Manfredonia the “hands off” interceptions opened old wounds, in the Region the investigations by the judiciary showed the cracks in Emiliano’s “government mode”, while the Access Commission for mafia infiltration in the capital involved the Mayor. A general reaction of surprise and skepticism, the people of Bari, and not only them, defended Decaro’s good government, the good reputation of the now consolidated public administration. Bari has changed. Old Bari, in particular. A few decades have passed since it was inadvisable to go inside… we stopped at the edges: small crowded, narrow rooms, full of smells. I remember “Il Buco” (only spaghetti with sauce, exceptional in terms of quantity, seasoning, cost), frequented by business travelers, trade unionists, railway workers, university students away from home… Old Bari has changed but not “gentrified”. The usual inhabitants remain, small shops and commercial activities, chip shops, retailers of homemade orecchiette… Separate offices of municipal services. A popular historic center perceived with the 5 senses.
Decaro is not a leader, not a “showman” like Emiliano. “It remains a mystery, he has no ideas that involve…” – says a PD leader from Manfredonia. People, however, appreciate availability and discretion, they remember him while walking through the deserted streets of Bari, alone in the pandemic, with tears in his eyes. And again in the days before the entry of the anti-mafia commissioners: the outburst, the emotion… and “I will welcome them with the armband”.
Do Decaro’s tears (once a sign of weakness) open up empathy? People see in it concern, closeness… Giorgia follows another path, replies to De Luca (I’m that bitch!), doesn’t hide resentments, and doesn’t forget. To the soldiers in Lebanon she refers to the distance from their families on Easter day, she is moved (she is a mother thinking of mothers), but she immediately appears strong, provocative: the soldiers defend peace, not so-called “pacifists” who stay at home on the Sofa. She likes the “virile” image, filtered by popular traits, the shrewdness and ease among the powerful of the Earth (G7). But be careful, Schlein approaches and she seems to be playing another script.
We are all thirsty for authenticity, we seek forms of “humanization” of politics. The credibility of a leader, rather than from the ideas or the program, derives from something else… the frequent question is “but what kind of person is he?”
The city is a sort of theater. Politics (and the electoral campaign) is a stage on which many want to climb. In Manfredonia, the Democratic Party, with top level agreements (Bordo PD – Conte 5 Stelle), tries to block a strange candidate who is advancing. And the two big parties are left holding the match, forced to chase him.
Lamarca, who is this? Storyteller, volunteer, just a supporting character… Nobody knows him. Committed to social work, he says. He always talks about community… he doesn’t have the physique du role, he says.
Lamarca responds in the closing rally. “It’s incredible that someone like me is standing in front of you!” A simple, humble family. Never surfaced in the public debate, little intervention on social media… Married with 4 children, forced to stay here. He began to be interested in immigration with the Scalabrinians, then in Foggia he discovered De Paolis and the Salesians… cultural mediator, social worker in cooperatives and various services, activated with public tenders. He learns from failures, studies and works.
From the beginning the philosopher Michele Illiceto shows attention to the electoral campaign and to the unnamed candidate. He wants to discover the puppeteers. Several posts on Facebook… Then the final unmasking: engaged in social work? The unnamed candidate is a boaster. Everything he does is not gratuitous, he is not volunteering… he confuses the “noble volunteers” with social professionals. Lamarca’s friends are surprised, irritated. “Why doesn’t he say his name?” “Why doesn’t he offer precise and direct criticism?”
Illiceto is a philosopher and theologian, “trainer” of many who participate in public competitions. But he has made his students aware of the problems of the elderly (Anna Rizzi retirement home), he is the animator of the Nicodemo project… Am I lying if I say that Illiceto is a teacher involved in social issues? Lamarca is an animator in the parish Grest in active citizenship courses, he has experimented with original forms of integration (theatre, inter-ethnic festivals…), used music to tell stories of marginalization, supported the NO CAP fight. Siponto’s House of Rights, in the year of his management, was full of initiatives not foreseen in the assignment contract. Am I lying if I say that he is involved in social work?
Never mind puppets, puppeteers, Trojan horses. Let’s talk about politics. On the ballot: La Marca (46.64) and Galli (25.76). Similar situation in Bari: Leccese (48%) and Romito (29%). Similar percentages of abstentions (over half): a fact of new proportions. Look to non-voters in Bari, Romito: we vote again without lists and customers, free voting. And anything can happen
