“The scandal of Rome” –

Sparks between Michele Santoro and Roberto Gualtieri on the collection of signatures in view of the European elections which will be held in June. «I have instructed my lawyer, Lorenzo Borrè, to report the Mayor of Rome Roberto Gualtieri to the Public Prosecutor’s Office for failing, despite repeated good-natured requests, to fulfill the obligations required by the electoral law to facilitate the collection of signatures for the presentation of the list Peace Earth Dignity. I spoke personally with the councilor responsible for the Electoral Office, Andrea Catarci, who told me ‘The Municipality is not obliged to do this’. The Democratic Party did not feel the need to express its opinion on the merits of the matter. Evidently, a right of constitutional importance, provided for by law, is considered to be an annoying practice that should not be avoided for unspecified reasons. Regarding votes, there is not only the scandal in Bari, but also that in Rome”, the note from the former television presenter.

Within a short return post, after the accusation of non-compliance, the reply arrived, entrusted to Adnkronos, from the Capitoline councilor for Personnel Andrea Catarci: «The collection and endorsement of signatures is not an obligation of the Municipalities. There is a law, article 14 of law 53 of ’90 which provides for a very large list of subjects who can collect signatures, including the mayor and his officials but as a possibility and not as an obligation. We, under pressure from Santoro, asked for confirmation of this ‘not obligatory’ from the Ministry of the Interior, central management of electoral services, and they reiterated to us that there is no regulatory obligation in this sense and that the administrations can evaluate autonomously and on the basis of their organizational and logistical availability whether or not to accept the invitation that comes from the lists”.

«I say this with regret – underlines Catarci – but if we had had more staff, without problems with digital services as we have had in recent months, we would have gladly helped the small lists. I want to remind you that Rome is at an all-time low in terms of personnel: we have 22 thousand employees compared to 31 thousand in the workforce. At this stage we believe we are not in a position to add a further commitment in an already delicate moment and respond positively to this invitation. Overall, however, we were disappointed because it would have been right to do one more thing. I explained all this directly to Santoro but he – the final quip – went on, perhaps he is looking for a bit of visibility or he really believes that there is an obligation”.