The president of the city council of Catania, Marco Consoli (Mpa) was fined by the traffic wardens because he parked his car inside the courtyard of the Town Hall, where, starting from today, the mayor Raffaele Stancanelli (Pdl) has forbidden to park because of security and decor problems. “I’m protesting to defend a binding principle: we must decide together the rules that regulate life inside the Town Hall – explained Consoli – the mayor made this decision, with which

I could agree, but without consulting the city council. Today he decided on his own on a secondary problem, but tomorrow he could make more important decisions on his own”.

 

“The fine? I asked the traffic wardens to fine me – he underlines – and I will pay 25 Euros, and I will continue paying because my battle will continue”. Consoli contested the mayor saying that “he’s not doing anything for the cars parked in the square in front of the Cathedral, that is a very bad example for everyone”. Consoli also asked Stancanelli: “since the second floor is actually being used by the Council ,why doesn’t he grant the rooms that the council groups also need”, those rooms are occupied by the offices of the administration cabinet. “This is not a retaliation – explained Consoli – but something we have been requesting orally for a long time”. Mayor Stancanelli preferred not to comment “an incident – he said – that has no meaning: we have more important things to deal with in Catania”.

 

Translated by Chiara Nunnari from John Milton Institute