In English: “Lipari, there is now a rift between Russo and the Gullo group in the municipal council.”

Last Updated: July 22, 2023

Lipari, ormai è rottura tra Russo e il gruppo Gullo in consiglio comunale

#Messina
A year after the elections, there is already a rupture between the president of the municipal council of Lipari, Nuccio Russo, and the council majority led by Mayor Riccardo Gullo. The split was already in the air for weeks, as the mayor had attempted to oust Russo, but he needed 11 votes and only managed to get 9. Now Russo has officially “detached” himself from the majority that had elected him.

“I must note,” he explains, “that many promises and expectations are now being broken by an administration that seems closed in on itself and prejudicially inclined towards repressing activities rather than promoting their development. In this first year of the term, they have only imposed burdens and launched proclamations without any follow-up in terms of concreteness, except to the detriment of businesses. I openly disagree with this way of doing things and above all, I cannot tolerate seeing my fellow citizens mistreated or their rights trampled upon, especially when preaching equality and transparency, as there always seems to be someone who is ‘more equal’ and receives preferential treatment.”

“The mayor Riccardo Gullo responds, “Do only tourist and commercial operators have rights, and do all other people not have any rights? Do we want to go back to occupying the sidewalks, preventing people from walking freely, hindering mothers with strollers, and insulting the disabled? Do we want to go back to blocking ambulances and police cars? The municipality is not an accountant’s office that only thinks about its clients; the municipality must think about all citizens! A municipality must establish equal rules for everyone and do everything to ensure that they are observed. This is what we are doing, unlike the past in which the recipient of this letter actively participated when impartiality could appear as a chimera.”

Reviewing his administrative career, he adds, “I highlight how many times he has been elected and/or appointed and how many times he has resigned. If he wants to, he can think about resigning for the umpteenth time, now as the president of the council since he has betrayed the trust of all the councilors who voted for him.” He concludes, “The fully legitimate ordinance was agreed upon with the prefecture after a discussion with other mayors in the province and with the opinion of trade associations.”