President Acquaroli on Ricci: "The case doesn't concern us; we're talking about programs."

Pesaro, July 23, 2025 – “ We're not interested , it doesn't concern us, and above all, it won't be the subject of the election campaign . Are we sure that the people of Marche are more interested in this than in strategic issues for the Marche?”

Francesco Acquaroli during the election campaign at Miralfiore Park in Pesaro.

From Pesaro , the epicenter of the foster care scandal , Governor Francesco Acquaroli (pictured) offers little comment on the investigation involving Democratic Party MEP Matteo Ricci , the center-left candidate who will be his competitor in this fall's regional elections. "I won't comment," Acquaroli reiterates, having just arrived at Miralfiore Park for a center-right campaign meeting in the red stronghold where Ricci was mayor for ten years. "We want to look at what we've achieved in recent years; we want to explain to the citizens what our plans will be." In the "wolf's den," the second city of the Marche region, with over a thousand activists, administrators, and councilor candidates from the host of political and civic forces supporting him, Acquaroli is forging ahead.

After Civitanova Marche , Pesaro is the next stop for the launch of the electoral campaign under the slogan "Più Marche": the team has chosen Miralfiore Park, braving the mosquitoes (too many) and the lack of parking (always too little). While Acquaroli whips up the horses he will ride into battle—the reopening, a year and a half ago , of the Guinza tunnel, "after thirty years of center-left talk" and the €204 million check with which the Marche Region will build the new hospital in Pesaro—we are distracted by comments from the ranks of the activists. "The mayor has a duty to know what's happening within the administration he leads and coordinates," observes FdI city councilor Serena Boresta . Ferdinando Magrini is only 19, but his ideas are clear: "It's a situation that casts the entire city in a bad light. Blaming your own staff or saying you weren't aware of what was happening is definitely not the way to bring order and clarity to the citizens." "Look, I'm a supporter of due process," said Gabriele Bartolino, a glass entrepreneur , "but when he had the opportunity to explain to the municipal commission what happened, Ricci arrogantly and condescendingly declined the invitation: I don't expect that from a mayor who is first and foremost a man of the institutions." His final comment was terse: "Even bullies have to abide by the rules." In short, they support due process, but they're happy.