Vincenzo De Luca: «Eike Schmidt offended Naples, he won’t even find a chair in Capodimonte»

«We are very fond of Schmidt, we want to keep him in Naples in Capodimonte». He closed the doors Municipalities of Florencethis is the sarcasm reserved by the president of the Campania Region Vincenzo De Luca to Eike Schmidt: he could decide to remain on the city council in Florence even in the event of defeat in the mayoral ballot and also remain at the helm of the Capodimonte Museum. And De Luca explains: «I don’t know if it’s compatible, the Minister of Culture should check it out a bit, it seems a bit complicated to me. I also considered it a little offensive for Naples that someone would get himself appointed director of Capodimonte and then go off to campaign, putting himself on leave, reserving the right to return to Capodimonte in the event of a failed election. Naples is a great capital of the world, the dignity of Naples cannot be offended in this way, by coming and going. He left his hat on the chair in Capodimonte, we won’t even let him find the chair.”

Gennaro Acampora, leader of the Democratic Party of the Municipality of Naples, addresses Eike Schmidt directly: «Dear director, after the electoral response offered by the Florentine citizens, I wonder if you have finally decided what to do, starting tomorrow. You will return to work full-time at the Management of the Royal Forest and Museum of Capodimonte, as requested by the Neapolitan citizens and residents of Capodimonte, or you will continue alternating part-time between the Museum management and the position of leader of the opposition in the Council Municipality of Florence? We think that the Management of the Capodimonte Forest is a commitment to be carried out full-time, with impartiality and maximum dedication, without distractions, as the recent problems regarding the maintenance of the forest and the decline in attendance are already visible to everyone. I hope he will make this decision as soon as possible, directing his efforts in a single and clear direction: Naples and its museums deserve quality directors and investments worthy of the necessary cultural relaunch.”

And the person directly concerned, the director on leave Eike Schmidt, responds: «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 the desire to remain in Palazzo Vecchio.

The Fratelli d’Italia deputy Marta Schifone he also comments: «The President of the Campania Region De Luca allows himself to decide what is right or wrong for the political and professional life of the centre-right candidate in Florence Eike Schmidt, former General Director of the Museum and Royal Bosco of Capodimonte. It is certainly not up to De Luca to issue certificates of compatibility between positions, but given that he is so attentive to the issue he should at least use the same yardstick also with his party friends who in many parts of Italy find themselves sitting on municipal councils unless they hold other positions assignments in other cities”.

And the senator of the Brothers of Italy Sergio Rastrelli: «Naples has a great director of the Capodimonte Museum who goes by the name of Eike Schmidt: there is no valid reason why he, not elected mayor of Florence, would renounce his position. I therefore find the words, as always over the top, used a short while ago by President De Luca against Schmidt to be inappropriate. I remember the case of Marzia Pontone, city councilor in Milan elected with a centre-left list, while at the same time directing the archival and bibliographic superintendence of Piedmont and Valle d’Aosta, based in Turin and no one on the left allowed himself to be a member , I don’t see why it should now be done against Schmidt, who is certainly capable of continuing to act admirably as director of the Capodimonte Museum in Naples and of leading the opposition in the city council in Florence”.

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