Adriana Poli Bortone, you were elected mayor of Lecce with an advantage of 646 votes. Analysts maintain that the city that is preparing to govern until 2029 is in fact a city divided halfway between the center-right and the progressive movement. What is your personal analysis of the vote?
«City divided? Maybe it was even more so when I didn’t win in the first round by 24 votes. Indeed, for 23.70 votes to be precise. Of course, the city can and does have different opinions but for me this element is not a problem. For example, I have already said today (yesterday, ed.) to the municipal employees that not only can but must maintain all their personal political ideas. I don’t care about this element at all. It is a fact of normal democracy that everyone retains their own ideas and I must be able to guarantee their work. With respect to citizens, I must be able to guarantee the rights and aspirations of all.”
After seven years of blackout of the center-right, she has been recognized for having reunited the coalition and brought it back to govern the city. But now she also has the task of synthesizing the legitimate expectations and desires of the parties and movements that make up the coalition. Will the iron lady attitude that she is recognized as having be necessary or is a team between the executive, city council, commissions and sub-government positions easily identifiable?
«The task that awaits me is very difficult but I think that this time I will be able to save myself the trouble. We went and get along perfectly. And this is demonstrated by the fact that in these hours the minister Raffaele Fitto, for example, but also the senator Roberto Marti and other authoritative party representatives have been sincerely close to me. Some by phone and messages, some in person and in person: everyone said they were ready and available to prefigure the future of the center-right with me. A future that is inaugurated with the five years of government at Palazzo Carafa and that points straight to the Province of Lecce first, given that the right to vote should most likely be returned to citizens and then to the Region in October”.
What measure do you think is most urgent for the city? What will ultimately be the first act of government?
«I would like to start by saying that I became aware of some provisions that the previous administration was trying to approve in these hours. And I am referring, for example, to the effect of a Council resolution that we did not vote for: I am referring in detail to the increase in ticket of public transport in the city. A direction in which I absolutely do not intend to proceed. This is why I will now have to intervene immediately with a measure that stops this procedure. We need a resolution to review transport tariffs.”
41 years after the adoption of the last Regulatory Plan and still in force today, Lecce is waiting to be redesigned through the Pug. A plan that has already had its approval phase in the Council. However, the same phases have already been subjected to scrutiny for years without defining a complete Pug that will be subjected to verification again and for the consequent adoption?
“On the Pug I have to report an unpleasant episode: last June 6th, if memory serves me correctly, and therefore in full ordinary administration, the resolution to propose the adoption of the new General Urban Plan to the City Council was approved. That is a resolution that will most likely have to be revoked. In relation to the Plan, some development prospects for the city will still need to be reviewed and better explored. There are some situations, such as those relating to the demolition and reconstruction of some homes along the coast, which will necessarily need to be verified. I believe, however, that within a year we will be able to have a clearer picture of the situation and imagine the consequent approval of the Pug”.
The Economic and Financial Plan (PEF) of the new SGM relating to parking in the city provides for an increase in tariffs, the number of blue lines and the extension of the ticket also on Sundays and holidays by 2032. Do you think it is possible and necessary to review it?
«The economic and financial plan will certainly need to be reviewed. At the moment a progressive increase in rates and the number of blue stripes but also an extension of the ticket on Sundays and holidays. Personally, I do not intend in the slightest to bind the Municipality and consequently the citizens until 2032 to the gradual and significant increase in scratchers for parking. She absolutely doesn’t fit into my intentions.”
During the electoral campaign you announced 5 thousand new car parks in the city: have you already planned where to build them and through what forms of financing?
«As I have had the opportunity to point out to the outgoing mayor several times, the CIS is being reviewed. A bit like what has already happened with the Pnrr funds. And therefore even the projects relating to the construction of some car parks envisaged by the previous administration will most likely be subject to this procedure. A need dictated by the urgency of creating works that can be built more easily. Personally, in the next few days I will meet with Minister Fitto precisely to analyze these situations and understand how we should approach the revision of the CIS. In any case, I remain of the opinion that car parks should be created at the entrances to the city.”
Movida to be regulated through a new ordinance?
«In relation to nightlife Residents and business owners have done a lot who, in the absence of adequate measures from the administration, have drawn up a set of rules of good coexistence and common sense which I believe is already sufficient to guarantee the needs and rights of everyone. I believe at this point that an ordinance is sufficient to make the guidelines of this agreement operational.”
After the summer, the pedestrianization works of via XXV Luglio should start. A construction site that should go hand in hand with the expansion of the 24-hour ZTL in the heart of the city. A path already “traced” or is a reversal imaginable?
«This too is a topic that will need to be re-analysed and radically revised also in light of the indications we have collected from citizens, traders and workers. The pedestrianization project for this artery needs to be rethought. I will check whether the construction site along Via XXV Luglio can be moved to other streets in the historic center. And the same goes for the 24/7 ZTL forecast: the timetable system will have to be rethought.”
New Coastal Plan: the Municipality has already launched the first tenders for the construction of kiosks and sports activities in the Lecce marinas. In theory, however, the expiration of the state concessions already assigned seems imminent. What to do?
«I believe that this is an issue that the central government intends to bring back to Europe. The Bolkestein was wanted above all by the regions of Northern Europe which do not have the same needs and the same economic system as our country. In this context, Italy represents a unique example. This is why I believe it is necessary to reopen the debate at European level.”
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