Schifani “I’m moving on, I didn’t go back to Sicily to spend the winter”

“I will not let myself be intimidated”. Thus, in a letter to the newspaper “Il Giornale di Sicilia”, the president of the Sicilian Region, Renato Schifani, wanted to return to the intimidations suffered. Anonymous phone calls, threatening letters, episodes that the governor himself defines as “the usual vile and cowardly script of those who feel threatened in their illicit interests”.

For Schifani, episodes like these “strengthen my determination to move forward, with a sense of state and in full compliance with the rules, to complete strategic projects for Sicily, starting with the waste-to-energy plant”. To ensure “maximum transparency, full compliance with environmental regulations and the traceability of each individual procedural step” in the construction of waste-to-energy plants, the regional administration has chosen to entrust the process to Invitalia. Further measures to ensure “conditions of maximum transparency and to prevent any risk of infiltration of illicit and mafia interests in the procedures and construction sites” include the signing of the collaborative supervision agreement with the National Anti-Corruption Authority (Anac) and the legality protocols signed with the prefects of Palermo and Catania.

In the letter, Schifani also retraces the reasons that led him to take on the role. His candidacy for the Presidency of the Region was born from a “unanimous choice of the leaders of the national and regional center-right in August 2022”. After having held the role of President of the Senate, he agreed to return to Sicily not to “winter” or to “occupy a seat”, but to “put himself at the service of the Sicilians, with a sense of responsibility, spirit of sacrifice and political passion”. The President deals with “complex, long-standing dossiers, often gangrenous from decades of delays and uncertainties” on a daily basis, working “with constant commitment” together with a “courageous team of collaborators”.

He emphasizes that “There are no shortcuts or magic wands”, but only a clear path to follow: “that of transparency, legality, sustainable development”. Schifani is aware that “every step forward can affect consolidated balances, annoy those who have benefited from a static and blackmailable Sicily, and generate uncontrolled reactions”. However, he firmly states that “it is not with fear that the future is built. And not even with silence or ambiguity”. The path is that of “truth and the courage of choices”.

Finally, the president emphasizes that he has no "personal interests to defend or vested interests to protect", but only "the will to make the Region more efficient, more capable of freeing itself from ancient constraints". He concludes by reaffirming the will to "We will move forward. Without fear. Now more than ever". (ITALPRESS).

Photo: Ipa Agency