Calenda closes the table for Rome: "Raggi incompetent and arrogant"

The Romans see yet another possibility of growth for their city going up in smoke. The Minister of Economic Development, Carlo Calenda, has officially closed the so-called "Table for Rome", launched last October at the request of the unions, with the aim of channeling resources towards a capital now in disarray. And it's not a matter of a few wasted pennies, but over a billion euros to be used to plug the various leaks and prepare a development plan.

“I launched this table at the request of the unions with a proactive spirit – explains the minister – I have repeatedly declared since the beginning that Rome's problems come from afar and that they are not attributable to the current administration. In addition to the funds made available by the Government and the Region the Mise has dedicated a team of 20 people to follow the projects of the working table".

“Yesterday I explained to the mayor in writing and in detail what stage the Rome table projects are at and what the Municipality's many defaults and delays are, inviting her to a restricted meeting with President Zingaretti. The Mayor's response confirms that the only way to avoid wasting time and resources is to close the table. He evidently believes he doesn't need help,” Calenda continues.

The decision of the owner of Economic Development comes following the letter sent to Virginia Raggi in which the deadlock of the platform was highlighted. A letter to which the first citizen of the capital replied as follows: “Now I read your letters in the newspapers first and then those that reach me. It surprises me, perhaps not so much - said Raggi - that two weeks after the vote they are back to promising a billion for Rome, after five years in which the government has completely forgotten about the capital. If this billion were true – he continued – we would have included it in the budget. But "in the balance sheet - concluded the mayor - I cannot insert words or promises"

Hence Calenda's vitriolic response: “I can only point out – continues the number one of the Mise – that we are faced with a combination of incompetence and arrogance which I had never experienced. We will go ahead with the Region with the projects that do not depend on this administration” of Rome.

I close the Rome table. After the mayor's umpteenth arrogant response to the document I am attaching, I retire in good order. Working for Rome in spite of the municipal administration is absurd. We have many other urgent things to do. https://t.co/8uvJToARyy pic.twitter.com/AbevIcMrEi

- Carlo Calenda (@CarloCalenda) 15 February 2018