«We are very fond of Schmidt, we want to keep him in Naples, in Capodimonte». Voting closed and the results for the Florence municipal elections are awaited, these are the words of the president of the Campania Region Vincenzo De Luca on the sidelines of the inauguration of the renovated Porta Nolana station in Naples. On the hypothesis that Eike Schmidt could decide to remain in the Florence City Council even in the event of defeat in the mayoral run-off and also remain at the helm of the Capodimonte Museum, De Luca explains: «I don’t know if it’s compatible, he should check a little the Minister of Culture, seems a bit complicated to me. I also considered it a little offensive for Naples that someone would get himself appointed director of Capodimonte, then go off to campaign, putting himself on leave, and then, if he wasn’t elected, return to Capodimonte”
And then he adds: «Naples is a great capital of the world, the dignity of Naples cannot be offended in this way of coming and going. He left his hat on the chair in Capodimonte, we won’t even let him find the chair.”
The official’s reply is punctual: «De Luca is not in charge of Capodimonte, he doesn’t know that his empire is limited and that the museum depends on the Ministry of Culture, led by another Neapolitan. The double commitment? I’ve always worked for four, I’m not worried”, he added, confirming his desire to remain in Palazzo Vecchio.
