Yesterday afternoon at 6.11 pm the Central Electoral Commission of the Brindisi Court proclaimed Antonio Matarrelli mayor of the city of Mesagne. Matarrelli had arrived a few minutes before 6pm and was wearing a dark gray suit, light blue shirt and light blue striped blue tie. The proclamation took place in the cloister of Palazzo dei Celestini, seat of the Town Hall. Several councilor candidates were present, all former councilors and political consultants. In the reserved rows there were some fellow mayors who had come from the province of Brindisi, the regional councilor, Mauro Vizzino, and of course the mayor’s family. In the second row the parents and in-laws and in the front row his wife Francesca with their two children. At the end of the proclamation there was a riot of applause. The mayor then asked and was granted the floor: “I am even more excited than the first mayoral election – began Matarrelli – also because the data that emerged in the present consultations is a data of clear feeling that has developed in Mesagne towards me.
A feeling that has to do with the many beautiful things we have achieved. I can say it: I am a lucky mayor because I have an active community.” Then his thoughts went to his coalition: “In the next five years, thanks to our broad coalition, we will do many other good things for the city. I ask everyone to stay close to me to have the strength and energy necessary to continue this mandate as best as possible because there is still a long way to go.” Finally, addressing his fellow mayors present, he said: “I am happy with the active collaboration that has been established with the other mayors of the area with whom we work to give a better future to our children.” Meanwhile, the mayor’s round of consultations with the political secretaries of the parties that make up the center-left coalition begins this morning. The aim is to appoint the council as soon as possible.
Of course it won’t be easy. There are too many demands for just five directors. In any case, Matarrelli has the legislative tools to close the circle of the council without causing discontent among the partners. At the basis of everything there must be a feeling of humility on the part of potential administrators. The mayor, in fact, has at his disposal tasks and delegations that should be sufficient to calm expectations: from council delegations to those of the consultants on his staff, from political consultants to the delegation of vice mayor to the appointment of the president of the municipal council. On the other hand, perhaps the only case in Italy, he has a Council made up of only the government majority, at least for now. The challenger coalition, Fratelli d’Italia, in fact, did not reach the quorum necessary to obtain a seat in the assizes. We will only have to see whether this will be a fixed-term administration or whether it will conclude the five-year period. But that’s another story.
