«It was a blow, let’s ignore the risks we run. The offense needs to be changed»- Corriere.it

The first report in 2014 when he was mayor of Cossato (Biella), the guarantee notice in 2019 when he was mayor of Biella, a position he still holds. Claudio Corradino, 62 years old, Lega, real estate agent and IT technician, after two and a half years of judicial procedures last June he was acquitted with full formula (“The fact does not exist”) with abbreviated rite of abuse of office. “But the national newspapers that initially published that I was under investigation, in the end reported nothing,” he recalls.

What was he accused of?

«For having favored a friend, from the League, to join the board of directors of Cordar Biella, a municipal company that manages public water in the area. Initially there was also an accusation of corruption, which was immediately dismissed”

For the abuse of office, the prosecutor had asked for an eight-month sentence.

«Instead, my innocence was recognized, as I have always maintained. On the other hand, abuse of office is an undefined crime, we mayors sometimes do things by running risks that we don’t even know about. Even the constitutionalist Sabino Cassese has criticized this situation. I don’t demonize abuse of office, but it needs to be changed. Prime Minister Meloni is right to want to intervene ».

What impact did the incident have on you?

«Heavy, it feels bad, it was a psychological blow that hurt me deeply. However, I must say, in my case, that I have always had a lot of solidarity from my family and friends everywhere. From a political point of view, on the other hand, the consequences would have been strong in the event of a conviction due to the Severino law: for mayors, they are suspended from office already with a first instance sentence. If we then look at the legal costs, I paid 36,800 euros, which I will largely not recover».

At the moment a different file is open against her with the accusation of embezzlement.

«Yes, for an alleged improper use of public cars. A matter worth less than ten euros, which can be resolved more conveniently through administrative means and which instead drags on for a long time, as in the case of Cordar, in the criminal case».