Former Ilva workers are pushing for Bitetti's resignation to be revoked: "No deal without the mayor."
Solidarity with Bitetti, pressure for him to withdraw his resignation, but also a firm rejection of any agreement without the mayor. Following the resignation of Mayor Piero Bitetti , the center-left majority in the Taranto City Council announced: "We believe that the City Council meeting on July 30th cannot be held for security reasons and that, in the Mayor's absence, the program agreement cannot be signed on July 31st." The political groups' meeting took place just hours after the resignation announced yesterday by the mayor, who was elected a month and a half ago and was protested yesterday by a group of activists on the sidelines of a meeting with committees and movements regarding the former Ilva steelworks. "What happened to Mayor Bitetti last night," a statement read, "is extremely serious and must be condemned."
The single-issue City Council meeting was scheduled for tomorrow, with the government's proposed interinstitutional program agreement on the steel industry on the agenda. But the ministry hasn't backtracked: the meeting , already convened in agreement with the Puglia Region and local authorities and scheduled at the Ministry of Mitigation for Thursday, July 31, aimed at finalizing the interinstitutional program agreement for the full decarbonization of the Taranto plant, will be held as scheduled. This was agreed upon, according to a statement from the Ministry of Mitigation, by the Minister of Enterprise and Made in Italy, Adolfo Urso, during a telephone conversation with the President of the Puglia Region, Michele Emiliano. Minister Urso himself, upon learning of the resignation last night, had a telephone conversation with Prefect Paola Dessì and, subsequently, with the Minister of the Interior, Matteo Piantedosi , regarding the incidents of intimidation and the political instability that led to his resignation. Urso then expressed his "full solidarity" with Mayor Bitetti. Meanwhile, as required by law, the mayor now has 20 days to confirm or withdraw his resignation.
Meanwhile, the Provincial Democratic Party of Taranto has expressed "deep regret for Mayor Piero Bitetti's decision to resign, a decision that marks a delicate phase in the political and administrative life of our city." "We believe it is essential to underscore the seriousness of the incidents of verbal and physical violence ," said Provincial Secretary Anna Filippetti and City Secretary Giuseppe Tursi, "that occurred during a public meeting with several environmental associations. Democratic debate and freedom of expression are founding values of our community, but they cannot and must never degenerate into aggression, intimidation, or behavior that undermines the dignity of individuals and institutions."
For the two Democratic Party representatives, "dialogue is a valuable tool, even and especially when positions differ. The city of Taranto needs to be built. In this difficult moment, the Democratic Party joins those calling on the mayor to reconsider his decision and consider withdrawing his resignation, resuming the administrative process." Bipartisan solidarity for Bitetti, including the call to reconsider his decision, came from Minister Urso, Angelo Bonelli, MP for the Green and Left Alliance and co-spokesperson for Europa Verde, trade unions such as UILM and USB, and the environmentalist group Veraleaks, among others.
La Repubblica
