Suddenly it broke out in Italy a scandal of vast proportions which above all damages the Democratic Party, the main force of the centre-left opposition and which, naturally, consolidates the far-right Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her government in power.
The “crash” occurred when there were just a few days left before the vote in the southern city of Bari, the capital of Puglia, governed by the Democrats. Primary elections in view of the local elections that will take place this year in Italy.
It was difficult to convince the Democratic Party led by the young Elly Schlein, 38, to accept a political alliance with the 5 Star Movement, populist in style and led by Giuseppe Conti, a lawyer who was twice Italian prime minister. Conti is popular among Italians and aims to return to Palazzo Chigi, the seat of government, in the next Italian general elections in 2027.
A trend in Europe
This data is important for those who believe that too much is enough in this crisis what is at stake in a Europe where the right is making notable progress and in which difficult days await because Ukraine is losing the war with Vladimir Putin’s Russia, which is issuing direct threats, also evoking atomic retaliation.
Direct causes of the great scandal were the discovery of illicit actions by members of the Democratic Party, especially in the south of Bari and in Turin, Piedmont, one of the richest Italian regions.
Former Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte discovered the scandal. Photo: AP It was Conte who discovered the scandal. From the stage last weekend, when the candidates for the primaries for the new mayor of Bari had to be chosen. Allies until then, the Democratic Party and Conte’s 5 Star Movement, presented Vito Leccese and Michele Laforgia respectively.
Party leader Meloni arrested
At the same time, the Italian police arrested this Tuesday in Palermo (Sicily) Mimmo Russo, a prominent leader of Fratelli d’Italia (FdI), the party of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, for vote buying, mafia association, extortion and influence peddling in favor of Cosa Nostra, the Sicilian mafia.
Russo, FdI’s candidate for mayor in the 2022 elections and councilor for 20 years in five different political groups, offered during the election campaign money, work and petrol vouchers that the mafiosi used to buy votes in the city’s neighborhoods, according to the complaint by the Prosecutor’s Office of Palermo collected by local media.
Together with Russo, The son of Filippo Marchese, historic and ruthless assassin of Cosa Nostra, has been arrested. who mediated the sale of votes and a construction contractor who would benefit from the redevelopment of green agricultural land for the construction of a shopping center in exchange for the vote of his workers.
The information provided by the justice collaborators was fundamental in uncovering a conspiracy in which the former councilor also made his influence available to the mafia as president of the Urban Planning Commission of the Municipality of Palermo so that they could control concessions, authorizations and contracts.
The political exponent of the Brothers of Italy He also offered money to mafia clans to organize neighborhood parties. this served to expand their influence and improve their image in the neighborhoods they controlled.
He also promised Cosa Nostra the use of the social services office to speed up the release of prominent mafia criminals, as well as contracts at the racetrack and even a job as a cashier for Marchese’s lover, again in exchange for votes.
Source: Clarin
Mary Ortiz is a seasoned journalist with a passion for world events. As a writer for News Rebeat, she brings a fresh perspective to the latest global happenings and provides in-depth coverage that offers a deeper understanding of the world around us.