a former prefect to cheat the M5S –

Mira Brunello

April 14, 2024

It’s all quite wonderful, in the sense of surreal, what is happening in Puglia at the moment. Then to be fair, in reality, it should be written, in recent years, the “soap” is certainly not a novelty of the season. A shadow theater rather, where the puppets go from one argument to another, more to respect the spirit of the show, than out of conviction. Michele Emiliano, until now, had escaped them all, with his usual thundering maramaldeggio, leaving the central stage to the two absolute protagonists: Elly Schlein and Giuseppe Conte. Now, however, the conflict becomes lexical (rather than political), and the bone of contention is centered around the councilor for legality. The fetish brandished by the M5S leader and snatched away, more out of desperation than anything else, by the secretary of the Democratic Party. Who gave orders to his team to grab him immediately to beat the fastest Giuseppi. And the right name had already been in the house for a few weeks, look at the coincidences: Antonella Bellomo, former prefect of Bari, and for a few days now the new coordinator of the Regional Health Inspection Unit, reporting to the President of the Region. The dems insist on their name, the lawyer from Volturara Appula gnashes his teeth, claims primogeniture, and immediately sets the record straight: “The councilor for legality must be ours, it is our seal to move forward.”

Then there is the puzzle of the councillors, changing without resetting is the fragile point of agreement, in addition to the two who resigned in the first hours, two others might follow their fate, the former Forza Italia Rocco Palese (precisely an external player) and Giovanni Francesco Stea. Emiliano appeals to the pride of his administration, it is the right time to put his foot down, in practice he continues to do what he does. The governor knows that in less than 60 days we will vote for the European elections and the Democratic Party needs everything except a shattered monument, that is, his council. Naturally, there is no lack of space for the more extreme sideshow, such as the appeal of two hundred small dem militants who signed a situationist appeal: «It’s embarrassing, discouraging in some ways, difficult. Yet, we are here.” In short, existential geometries, as Franco Battiato would sing. Or like Domenico De Santis, who plays a double score in the mirror, as regional secretary of the dem and at the same time a close collaborator of Emiliano, former deputy cabinet chief: «We asked Michele to give a strong signal of renewal and a change of pace to the council. We are pleased with the president’s prompt response. We are working to follow up on the instructions of secretary Elly Schlein.” In short, pure illusionism.

The fact is that panic is starting to spread among the Democrats over another shock, which might upset the regional structures and the balances agreed upon for the post-Emilian period. That is, Antonio Decaro’s candidacy for the European elections in June is visibly weakening. And not just for the possibility of the Municipality of Bari being dissolved by the mafia, but for the effect of the ongoing controversies. The mayor’s ‘make-up’ operation failed, following the pride day once morest minister Piantedosi, nothing went right anymore, the arrests continued, the climate became even more murky. To the point that Elly wonders if it is really convenient for the Democratic Party to nominate him for the European elections in second place (behind Rai journalist Lucia Annunziata) in the Southern constituency. Which is not only a question that concerns the next elections but above all the regional ones of the following year. Everyone has known for some time that Michele Emiliano’s true successor is the president of the ANCI. It is clear that a possible stumble in June would also call into question the passing of the baton. In short, there are all the conditions for the Apulian soap to continue for a few more seasons, guaranteed twists and turns.