URBINO – Sexist controversy breaks out in the electoral campaign on the initiative of Bruno Malerbaformer business executive, candidate of Greens and Left Alliance (7 preferences), who published a sharp, refined and politically incorrect post on Facebook against Maurizio Gambini with misogynistic expressions. His targets are right-wing women, in particular Giulia Volponi, indicated by Gambini as deputy mayor in the event of the centre-right’s victory in the run-off, and Lara Ottaviani, who also felt called into question.
Malerba writes: «I have never loved the woman of the right. I always had the sensation of a domesticated female, a little downwind, tampered with and understood in forms of vaguely Germanic folklore. I never even understood if they are different sexually. Likely. Those on the left are much better.”
«Publicly attacked»
Giulia Volponi declares that she «was publicly attacked and defined as a “used” woman (this is precisely the term)» a few days ago by the mayoral candidate Federico Scaramucci, but that she considered those words a lapse in style dictated by the heat of the campaign. However, she is not silent about the new offense. «Another “lightness”? I wouldn’t say – she underlines – she, also because the content of that text was approved with a “like” (later removed) by the leader of the list, Gianluca Carrabs and by other candidates. I don’t make it a question of left or right, but there is no doubt that this becomes a political position on women, not a personal opinion. All of them, regardless of the side. “Used women”, “sexually different women”, depending on their political affiliation. All this is offensive. I don’t expect distancing, on the contrary I see a certain consensus within Carrabs’ list. I’m not interested in this. I would like instead have the comfort of the intimate indignation of everyone, men and women, equally outraged by these words. The real distancing is our work, our commitment, our passion in doing things.”
Lara Ottaviani defends the professionalism, ability and commitment that she has for the city «but I believe that many other people know how to independently judge my seriousness and that of others who are working with me».
The post, which among the 17 likes (then decreased) yesterday also included those of some women, sparked indignant comments for the sexist passage. There are those who tried to justify those words with “literary/ideological licence” but to dampen the political controversy, mayoral candidate Scaramucci intervened and posted a comment defining the thought expressed as a delusion and asking Malerba to apologise, while others candidates have publicly dissociated themselves from the writing
Baldelli’s censorship (FdI)
But the damage has been done. FdI deputy Antonio Baldelli intervenes in the case and stigmatizes the post which «attacks, in a disjointed and obscurantist manner and with words coming directly from the Middle Ages, the mayoral candidate Maurizio Gambini» and «all women, be they right or left» .
