Sicily, storm over the ARS: La Vardera asks for Galvagno's resignation

Regional deputy Ismaele La Vardera breaks his silence after the seizure of the phone from Galvagno's spokeswoman and points the finger at the president of the ARS: «Favors, conflicts of interest and gifts of 30 thousand euros. The Parliament is not his»

Concert tickets, public funds treated as a personal account, suspicious consultancy to relatives after the arrival of allocations and a spokeswoman who allegedly accepted gifts of 30 thousand euros. This is, according to Ismaele La Vardera, the snapshot of a system that overwhelms Gaetano Galvagno, president of the Sicilian Regional Assembly.

The leader of the Controcorrente movement decided to speak only after examining the documents of the investigation: "I waited before expressing myself to read the documents and understand, without limiting myself to what came out in the press. Interceptions and behaviors that can be deduced from the documents make it clear that the current president of the ARS has lost his compass of ethics and morals, which is unacceptable for his role."

The complaint: “Parliament is not the property of the president”

According to La Vardera, Galvagno would not only be the representative of a political party, but would hold an institutional role that requires rigor and impartiality: «His role is not only the expression of a party, but representation of the entire Parliament. With this investigation, the credibility of the institution has been seriously damaged».

The deputy does not mince his words, saying he is the first to publicly advance the request for resignation: «I am the first regional deputy to officially ask the president of the ARS to step down from his role».

Behind the scenes: the sister, the gifts and a confiscated phone

Galvagno's position is further complicated by the seizure of his spokeswoman's phone, an event that - according to reports - would have caused strong nervousness at the top. "The president is very nervous," the spokeswoman herself would have confided, as emerged from the documents.

Also causing controversy was the involvement of Galvagno's sister, who – according to La Repubblica – helped Lady Dragotto, an entrepreneur at the centre of some of the relationships under scrutiny by investigators.

The appeal to the parties: "Let's defend Parliament"

Vardera launches an invitation to all political forces: «I appeal to all parties, opposition and majority, to join my request: Parliament is the home of democracy, not the property of the president».

The deputy concludes with thanks to the Guardia di Finanza and the Palermo Prosecutor's Office: "I can only thank the economic-financial police unit and the judiciary for the great work done. Their commitment has been fundamental in shedding light on a system that undermines citizens' trust in institutions."