The Government “condemns” small municipalities: Monti Dauni and Gargano among the areas without hope

“ A significant number of internal areas already have a compromised demographic structure (small population, in sharp decline, with a marked imbalance in the relationship between old and new generations) as well as low prospects for economic development and weak conditions of attractiveness. These areas cannot set themselves any objective of reversing the trend but they cannot be abandoned to themselves either. They need a targeted plan that can assist them in a path of chronic decline and aging in order to make it socially dignified for those who still live there”.

In an official document, the Government explains that there is nothing that can be done about the decline (demographic, economic, employment) of a good portion of the municipalities in the internal areas of Italy. The areas “without hope” of a reversal of the trend are those in green on the map below. All in the South, except one. In the province of Foggia, the “hopeless green” according to the government concerns both the Monti Dauni and a part of the Gargano: that is, 34 municipalities out of 61. A fact that has made the mayors of the small towns of the Monti Dauni go berserk. “What is written in the Strategic Plan is really very serious, and it has nothing strategic about it. A sort of assisted euthanasia,” explains Noè Andreano , mayor of Casalvecchio di Puglia. “It is a lack of respect towards us and also towards those who live in these territories and preside over them.”

“Reading in the text of the Internal Areas Strategy – adds the mayor of Castelnuovo della Daunia, Guerino De Luca – that our towns must be accompanied to a slow decline is very hurtful and disrespectful towards our communities. Here there are people who believe in their towns, who invest money. All this confirms to us that this Meloni government has no interest in small towns. Evidently they only think about major projects. It's like saying I have a sick child, and instead of curing him I accompany him to death, otherwise I won't let others live. Absurd”.

The mayors asked for clarification from Minister Tommaso Foti, in the province of Foggia for some political meetings. Foti, who has the delegation for internal areas, responded as follows: "Chatter. This is the usual controversy that someone wanted to create, having the merit of not knowing how to read and understand. The CNEL says so, not our Government".

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