Very tense regional council in Liguria, the first session after the arrest of the governor Giovanni Toti. From the “guests” benches some citizens shouted: “Buffoons, buffoons” during the speech by Fratelli d’Italia councilor Stefano Balleari on the case of the arrests that shocked Ligurian politics. To contain the protest, the intervention of the president of the chamber was necessary Gianmarco Meduse.
To symbolize the Ligurian political and judicial earthquake, the empty desk of the president of the Toti Region. Present in the courtroom were the councilors from his list Stefano Anzalone and Domenico Cianci, both under investigation. Medusei began the work by taking note of the «Suspension” from Toti’s appointment and the “interim replacement” by the vice president Alessandro Piana, while a few dozen demonstrators immediately gathered in front of the entrance to the assembly for a protest initiative. «I will take on the role on an interim basis, I will do it with a great sense of responsibility, in the awareness of the important task – said Piana -. First of all, I express a thought of closeness to President Toti, who has always acted for the good of Liguria and I hope that clarity will be clarified as soon as possible, the activity of the Liguria Region will continue without interruption.”
Anzalone, a policeman by profession and now under investigation for electoral corruption as a regional councilor, spoke and was moved: «Contrary to the trials underway perpetrated by some media outlets which, as already seen in the recent past, issue conviction sentences even before investigations and trials have run their course, placing a media pillory – it is the outburst in the courtroom of the councilor who is very close to Toti -, I entrust myself with full confidence to the work of the judiciary and I give my complete availability to meet the competent bodies”. According to the prosecutors, the votes of the Riesi community of Genoa were channeled into Anzalone, elected with the Toti List, through people believed to be close to the Cammarata clan.
«Now or never, this legislature is over – said the group leader Ferruccio Sansa (Lista Sansa) taking the microphone first from the ranks of the opposition – The “1.3 billion dam is for Spinelli”, whoever is intercepted and makes this statement on the largest public work in the country can no longer lead the Region”. He continues the discussion in the chamber on the investigation, although on the agenda of the session there are only questions for immediate response, no resolution of the Council, the discussion of which is scheduled for the next session. Meanwhile, a secretary from the regional offices complains: “they are sending us everything” he said referring to emails received in recent days from some citizens.
All while the majority, with FdI and Lega in the lead, are trying to unite around governor Toti, suspended following serious accusations. The group leaders Stefano Balleari (FdI) and Stefano Mai (Lega) respond to the opposition’s requests for resignation by claiming that “they are a personal choice of Toti”. «We are living one of the darkest pages from a political point of view in Liguria. – reports the group leader of the Democratic Party Luca Garibaldi – The only possible path is resignation.” «I reject the nickname “jackals” to the senders – said M5S group leader Fabio Tosi -because in a normal and civilized country, when a person is placed under house arrest, he resigns, this is why we ask for his resignation. Do you want to wait ten years? Ten years until the whole process ends? No. There is a moral issue in Liguria, so we will continue to say “resign”.
«We all felt a sense of confusion when hearing about an investigation involving the President of the Region, – replies FdI group leader Stefano Balleari – without prejudice to the fact that the precautionary measure cannot and must not erase the results obtained in Liguria in recent years, FdI will take a wait-and-see line, if justice establishes that President Toti is guilty, the judges will establish it, not this courtroom. We will abide by the sentences. But until proven otherwise we will abstain from any justicialist attitude and will wait for the conclusion of the investigations.” Resignation «is a personal choice, – Lega group leader Stefano Mai intervenes – Liguria is growing, blocking the Region would be enormous damage to the economy. I also received a notice of guarantee one month after re-election as mayor. If everyone resigned due to a notice of guarantee, the country would come to a halt. Toti must move forward.”
