«I am applying and I am still looking to the future. Cuffaro? I respect him, he showed dignity»- Corriere.it

CATANIA – Reformulates the old proverb and makes it known that there is no four without five. Here he is again Enzo Bianco, the former Minister of the Interior, a first life in the old Republican Party, then one of the four founders of the Democratic Party (Margherita extraction), just turned 72. He has decided to try again, for the fifth time, to return to “his” seat as mayor in Catania, in view of the vote scheduled for May 28th.

First term?

«In 1988. First non-Christian mayor of the city«. It’s been 35 years. “I found myself in a city council that looks like a black and white photograph. I see Pannella and Emma Bonino again, Rino Nicolosi, Salvo Andò, Anna Finocchiaro, Domenico Modugno…».

Many are no longer in the breach. You, survivor, do not give up.

«I was the youngest, full of enthusiasm. The councilors voted for me, but I behaved as if I had been elected by the people. When an internal war broke out to oust me, schools stopped, the boys went on strike to defend me”.

And should those guys with white hair vote again today?

“They have no alternatives in a Catania that I had made among the most livable in Italy and where now there is fear, garbage, unemployment because, to put it without the need for translation, it is in manu a nuddu, no one”.

Should the city go back to the past?

«What the past. All projected to the future, not to reminiscences. With today’s kids. With the young people of ‘Prima vera Catania’, a group of university students. With volunteers. With the associations asking me to save the city administered, so to speak, in five years by 6 different subjects, including mayors and commissioners. And the last extraordinary commissioner is without a council».

You seem to be unaware that the city votes above all for the centre-right, that La Russa and Meloni, Lollobrigida and Musumeci will do everything to have the mayor, that Forza Italia is aiming for the position, that perhaps Raffaele Lombardo is reappearing, just today acquitted in the Cassation…

«And I appeal to political forces of progressive, reformist and moderate inspiration for ‘a broad civic project’«.

All inside? Are you updating the idea of ​​”wide shot”?

«Doors open to those who believe in Catania as a laboratory of innovation».

And closed to whom?
«To those who have opposite ideas on immigration to the need to rescue and welcome. To those who do not recognize the rules of legality and defend the illegal trade or construction. As mayor, I had 327 demolitions carried out…».

It seems that you leave the doors open to Totò Cuffaro, ready for an endorsement as he did in Palermo with the mayor Lagalla.

“No endorsements. He declared that if the center-right is united it is on that side and if it were not, it would be the best choice ».

Would Cuffaro vote White? Wouldn’t there be embarrassment?

«I respect Cuffaro for the dignity with which he faced prison. Exemplary. He made mistakes, he paid a heavy price without recriminating … ».

redeemed?

“Officially, he could run. With great dignity he said that he is not a candidate. There is a Constitution. He paid. To date, however, no closed alliance. It’s about human respect. But, Cuffaro aside, I appeal to all moderates».

There are moderates pointing to other candidates. Why the “return” to Bianco?

«When there is a serious, serious illness, a doctor who has recognized professionalism is needed. I offer my experience. Ready to hand over the healed city in five years to one of those guys who today calls for my return.

A judicial slope floats over her…

“I await the ruling of the Court of Auditors on an affair that leaves me calm”.

They accuse her of a disruption of the municipal coffers.

“Not for provoking it, but for trying to avoid it. I would have underestimated 4 items of revenue and expenditure out of 800 for a total of 1.2 percent of the budget”.

The sentence is expected within days.

«I know that it has already been issued and not yet communicated».

Confident?

«Sure of the result, because I’m sure I did the right thing».

Where does it start?

“I’m going to a meeting with the young people. At Falcone Park which I inaugurated as mayor together with Maria Falcone».