Already in mid-May, even the poster had appeared on the official social networks. With a layout almost identical to the communication campaign on Covid (a group of stylized young people, so enthusiastic as to seem exultant), on which the title, “The government of the Region”, and the theme on “Three years of work for Sicily” stood out. Images, realizations, perspectives “. But, above all, two dates and a place: 11-12 June, in Palermo.
In the beginning it was supposed to be the convention to launch the re-nomination of Nello Musumeci; then, due to a series of circumstances, it was declassified on the catwalk to show the results of the regional government; finally, however, nothing has been heard of the event (in theory scheduled for tomorrow, since no one has ever corrected the announcement). Or rather: it is certain that it will not be held on the announced dates, for the simple fact that no one, at Palazzo d’Orléans, had noticed that the go-ahead of the national government at the conferences, albeit with some anti-Covid measures, was to be time set from June 15th.
An institutional gaffe, perhaps due to performance anxiety for an event conceived as the launch pad for Musumeci-bis, with the big players of the center-right who should have asked, in unison, the governor to “complete the path started” with five others years of time. But, already in the majority summit on 4 May, it was understood that it was not air. With the desertion of Lega and Autonomisti, in fact, the document that the allies should have signed remained in the presidential drawer: a sort of blank bill of exchange to ask him for the sacrifice of the second term. The plan jumps and here is the explicit pressure on the councilors. “Anyone who does not agree with my re-nomination can also go out the door: either with me or against me”, is the Musumecian edict during a meeting called “surreal” by some of the participants.
No way. And therefore we change format. “We have done many things, but we have not been able to communicate them: we tell the Sicilians our great results”, is the new idea. And so the government parade begins to take shape. That of the poster. A kind of “Leopolda with a goatee”: there is also the possibility of doing it at the Cantieri della Zisa, with bilateral thematic tables (two councilors at a time) and a list of journalists to be involved. Naturally, Ruggero Razza manages the political-logistical details of the organization, since before his return. The conductor of the show on the main stage is also hired: Massimo Minutella from Palermo. In the draft program the grand finale of the second day is outlined: first a round table on the bridge and finally the closure of Musumeci, with the interventions of the big regional center-right guests at the event. And the latter is the point of fall. Between whispered defections, looming stomach ache and explicit stray mines. Like Gianfranco Miccichè. At the height of a harsh text message exchange with Musumeci (who points to the “traitors among your allies”, with a piqued answer to claim that “they are the same ones who made you elected!”), The Ars president announces his presence : “I’ll come, but it’s better for you if I don’t speak.”
Now the convention, already postponed to the hypothetical dates of 18 and 19 June, disappears from government radar. And the councilors, for some time obliged to provide the “cards” on the work done (material for the slide to be projected, but also for a celebratory volume to be printed and distributed), until yesterday I am in the dark. “The president has said that it will be done, but at the end of June,” reveals those who accredit a simple postponement. But others argue that, in the long Catania exile, the governor came to milder advice. Listening to those who, among the few he still trusts, suggested that he postpone to better times. More or less with these words: «Nello, it makes no sense to do the convention now. Not all allies are ready to formalize support for your re-nomination. And then, even on the results of the government, everything we say will be forgotten, canceled from the summer holidays ». The idea, therefore, is “to let the tensions settle, rescheduling the event for September”. When the temperature, even in the majority, will be less torrid. Perhaps thanks to the summer appointments in Irfis, Pension Fund, Iacp Palermo and other sub-government folding seats. And most importantly, when the work of moral suasion on the allies entrusted to Razza, the revived Richelieu Musumeciano who has already visited Raffaele Lombardo, will have produced the first fruits. Autumn, hopefully.
Twitter: @MarioBarresi