“I speak publicly, after a few hours from the instrumental attack of Ugo Galli towards Daniela Marcone, to clarify a few things. I invited Daniela, who I have known for twenty years through experiences, projects and work carried out together, not for a rally in support of my candidacy, but to talk about legality, memory and her history”. As Domenico La Marca, centre-left candidate in Manfredonia, after the recent controversy over the meeting with the representative of Libera, the anti-mafia association.
“The event, scheduled for this afternoon, would certainly have enriched the public debate in our city – continues La Marca -. Daniela is a free citizen, a person who has been active in the area for years, involving schools, associations and third sector entities. I therefore found Ugo Galli’s attack incorrect and mystifying. I called Daniela and not the association she represents. In fact, the demonstration that should have taken place this evening did not involve the territorial garrisons of ‘Libera’ in any way. Don Ciotti’s association was mentioned only in the presentation of the guest who, as my opponent will well know, is also (but not only) the daughter of Francesco Marcone, killed by organized crime in 1995. The listing of his roles in ‘Libera’ was absolutely not intended to bring up the association in the electoral campaign, but added some information on his civil and cultural activity”.
And again: “I am sorry, therefore, that Ugo Galli exploited this initiative, asking Daniela to take a step back. Preventing a free citizen, who intervenes not in an official capacity, but in a personal capacity, from participating in a meeting on such an important issue as that of legality, I believe represents an unacceptable request. If Galli had cared so much about this topic, he could have also called Marcone, who would have accepted his invitation to discuss these topics with great pleasure.”
Then he concludes: “Precisely for this reason, and to demonstrate the absolute goodness of the initiative, I officially invite my opponent, Ugo Galli, to participate and listen to Daniela Marcone’s testimony with me. If he accepts the invitation, the meeting can take place in a neutral location. I would like to thank Daniela Marcone from now on who, despite the attacks she has received, has already expressed her willingness to possibly meet the two candidates. I hope that Galli can really take part in this meeting to listen to a life lesson and an exemplary testimony from those who, every day, fight and work against organized crime”.
