Mario Basentini: “The EVI competitions are valid, let's move forward”

After months marked by institutional tensions, legal debates and heated discussions between consortium bodies, the president of EVI, Mario Basentini, has chosen to break the silence. He does so with a frank and detailed interview, in which he addresses all the hot topics that have animated public debate in the last year and a half. From public competitions questioned by conflicting legal opinions, to the dispute with CISI, up to the recent seasonal hiring and the most urgent infrastructure works on the island, such as the Sant'Angelo pipeline and the Lacco Ameno course. A space for discussion and clarification, but also a look at the political and administrative future of a complex and delicate territory such as Ischia.

Welcome to the president of EVI, Mario Basentini. It's a bit like Giorgia Meloni being interviewed by Repubblica, at least in this last year and a half. And we recognize, let's say in quotation marks, the courage to share this moment also with a newspaper that has always taken very clear positions. Let's get straight to the point, or maybe rewind the tape: between CISI and the new presidency, especially after the change of the representative of Serrara Fontana, and EVI it seems that a battle is being waged with pro veritate opinions. Lawyer Maffettone has argued that the EVI competitions are not valid. You have responded with another opinion, pro veritate, signed by Lawyer Laudadio. It seems like a match between Sinner and Alcaraz, or perhaps another one...? “No, let's not exaggerate. First of all, thank you for the invitation: it is always a pleasure to speak with you, director, with whom there is a long-standing friendship. Beyond the positions that you have legitimately expressed, even critical but always constructive, for me it has always been pleasant to discuss. I thank you for this opportunity. On the alleged conflict, even this morning reading the newspapers, I see stories of wars that I sincerely do not see. Personal relationships are excellent, both with the mayors and with the lawyer Lucia Rosa, Rossella, Buono, with whom we met recently for a long and fruitful discussion. On the competitions, it is true that there are different evaluations, but on our part there is no doubt about the validity of the procedures adopted. The notices were sent to the CISI and to the mayors long before their publication, which took place in February. It seemed a bit strange that the doubts emerged only after 3-4 months. In any case, we relied on an external company, we made our assessments as an administrative body and asked Professor Laudadio for an opinion. On Tuesday, June 10, the Assembly deliberated a clear direction: if the procedures are correct, we can move forward. Therefore, I believe that everything will end for the best”.

Spontaneous question: who pays Maffettone? And who pays Laudadio? “Maffettone was appointed by CISI. He also followed the dispute with EVI, the subject of the well-known ruling of the Council of State that you also spoke about. We can come back to it if you want”.

However, to those who listen, it may seem like a paradoxical situation: like a child who sues his parent, and the parent pays the lawyers of both. Even if, it is legitimate, a Board of Directors or a presidency office has the duty to defend its actions "If you are referring to the competition notices, it is clear that, in the face of doubts raised several times by the sole liquidator, we who had no doubts still considered it appropriate to request an opinion from Professor Laudadio. He was impeccable, from a professional point of view. The aim was to have external confirmation of the quality of our work. As for the dispute between CISI and EVI on the consortium shares, it is a dispute that arose before the current Board of Directors and was already before the TAR. After the TAR ruled against EVI, we had to appeal to the Council of State. Before that, however, we had also put forward a written settlement proposal via PEC, all documentable. Now the ruling of the Council of State has opened up new scenarios: we have entered into the merits. We will see how to address the issue, sitting down at a table with mayors and with the liquidator Buono".

You have announced the suspension of the competitive exams, also pending the Board of Directors and the CISI Assembly. However, there are rumors that there was a problem with the Commission. “It is true. Yesterday morning we received the resignation of Dr. Michele Scognamiglio, member of the Commission, for personal reasons. I have already called the Board of Directors for Tuesday 17 at 11: among the items on the agenda will be the 2024 budget and the competitive procedure, including the integration of the Commission. The suspension is due exclusively to this defection. Everything else continues: we had already started the scheduling of the tests for the workers, and then the one for technicians and sales staff would have followed. We are waiting for the officialization of the resolution of the Assembly, but having already had advances, we are ready to proceed next Tuesday”.

80 candidates for the workers' competition: an interesting figure. Perhaps holding serious competitions brings participation. "Absolutely. In total we received 313 applications for all the announcements. A significant figure, which demonstrates the great demand for work. When we talk about permanent contracts with 14 months' salary, it is not an opportunity that comes along every day on the island. Starting the competitions was one of our priorities, and despite the difficulties, we are succeeding."

We had no doubts about the fairness of the competitions, but we asked for an external opinion out of respect and transparency

Of the 313 candidates, how many are residents of the island? “The vast majority, absolutely yes. I don’t have the exact numbers here, but I can say with certainty that the majority of the candidates are islanders.”

The other hot topic is hiring: the famous temporary workers, now seasonal. Not everything is clear. “Thank you for the question, I'll try to clarify. Until December-January 2024/2025, based on legal opinions, it was possible to extend the supply contracts until June 30, 2025. But at the beginning of the year a new regulation was introduced, followed by an explanatory circular from the Ministry of Labor on March 27. In fact, it was no longer possible to extend the old contracts. A new legal opinion confirmed this interpretation, and the CISI Assembly instructed us not to proceed with the extension. We therefore started a new selection procedure, in which four companies participated. We chose the most economically advantageous offer and identified the profiles of interest. The company drew up a ranking, and the Board of Directors took note of it. The contracts are seasonal, expiring on June 30, extendable until October 30. They were necessary to ensure continuity while waiting for the conclusion of the competitions”.

Did those who were left out appeal? “Yes, we received three appeals out of twelve administered. Six were hired, three were not, and three did not appeal. It is understandable: if someone believes that their right has been violated, it is legitimate for them to turn to justice. Then, of course, we will defend ourselves”.

Let's talk about public works: Sant'Angelo. After controversy and clashes, the works are finally being done. “Thank you for your question. The Sant'Angelo pipeline was an absolute priority. The mayors asked us to intervene since they took office. There were leaks in several places, which had been causing sewage leaks for years. We took office in February, and after several meetings with the Municipality of Serrara Fontana, we made a commitment to start the work within 100 days. The project is divided into three phases: one already completed, one in progress and the last after San Michele, between September and October. There were technical difficulties, also related to the protection of Posidonia, but we respected the constraints and contracted out the work. There has always been a cordial relationship with the mayor Irene Iacono and the former deputy mayor Rosario Caruso. We challenged the municipal ordinance reluctantly, only to protect the Board of Directors. The work was mandatory, on the basis of a CISI resolution, and today it is underway as planned”.

The other intervention: Corso di Lacco Ameno. An important work, born badly, but crucial. “Yes, last summer we already faced an emergency for the leakage of sewage in Corso Angelo Rizzoli. Engineer Franco Trani intervened promptly. Now we are in a new phase of work, also thanks to the role of implementing body for the post-emergency reconstruction. The initial project was not followed by EVI, but by the Municipality. Today we are trying to solve an ancestral problem with modern techniques. And we are succeeding”.

It is often said that his position as president is in the balance. Is there any truth to this? “It is part of the game. It is normal for there to be different opinions. After a year and a half, it is right that the members question the effectiveness of the administrative body and the president. I am also making assessments. I have never perceived concrete signs of distrust. The relationships with the mayors are excellent. Of course, I was appointed by politics, and I understand the dynamics. But today I do not see any real reasons to think about replacements. We will see what happens in the coming weeks”.

Looking further ahead: Gianluca Trani, president of the Ischia City Council, seems to be a key figure for 2027. “With Gianluca there is a relationship of authentic friendship, outside of politics. A rare thing. There is certainly the willingness to put himself at the service of the country and the political-administrative project. His leadership, even if silent, is evident. But there are still two years to go: we must be prudent and, why not, even a little superstitious”.

Yes, be careful.