A casino to balance the books: this is the proposal for Catania’s mayor, Salvatore Emmanuele, the secretary of the League for the independence of Sicily. “It seems that people from Taormina are not interested in the opening of a casino – said Emmanuele – and so, since part of the Finance bill will probably give the chance to open 8 casinos in Italy, the city of Catania could be interested in opening one”.

“The mayor – he suggested – will send a petition to the Home secretary to make use of the 1927 law, that allowed the opening of casinos in Sanremo, Campione d’Italia and Venice. A law – underlined Emmanuele – passed notwithstanding laws, also penal ones, to favour these cities, in order to balance their books. Obviously a casino in Catania wouldn’t solve all the administrative problems the city has – ended Emmanuele – but, at least, the people from Catania could pay less taxes and host more tourists”.

Translated by Chiara Nunnari from John Milton Institute