Resignation of the mayor di Taranto, Piero Bitetti: the story of theformer Ilva linked to the institutional program agreement on decarbonization of the factory is now even more in doubt after the resignation, which took place on Monday evening, of the mayor, elected less than two months ago at the head of a centre-left coalition supported by the Democratic Party, the Con Emiliano movement, the red-greens, and civic lists. The 51-year-old mayor resigned after heated protests at the City Hall by activists linked to associations environmentalists, also summoned by the mayor himself to hear their positions on the former Ilva.
Taranto Mayor Resigns: Why Bitetti Left
The crux of the matter now is that the Taranto city council meeting is scheduled for Wednesday morning with only one item on the agenda: the program agreement on the former Ilva. And for Thursday, July 31st, it is set to Mimit the summit between the Minister of Enterprise, Adolfo Urso, the institutions and administrations delegated to sign the agreement itself: the Municipalities of Taranto and Statte, the Province of Taranto, the Ionian Sea Port Authority and the Puglia Region.
Following the resignation of the mayor, which has an "immediate effect" but which the mayor himself can withdraw within a maximum period of 20 days, today a decision will be made whether or not to hold the Council meeting tomorrow. Sources from the City Hall – reports theAgi – they clarify that "theoretically the session could even take place, but politically it would be inappropriate." The majority forces have called a meeting .
Regarding the meeting on the 31st, no decision has yet been made by the Ministry of Municipalities. Urso was informed of the resignation of the mayor of Taranto last night, and late today the minister will participate in a call—scheduled before Bitetti's resignation—with Taranto's business associations to review the situation. Yesterday afternoon, before his resignation around 21 p.m., the mayor himself had the City Hall transmit the request to the Ministry of Municipalities, for the attention of the technical committee called to examine the issue ofgas supply for the purposes of decarbonising the steelworks, the administration's position.
Taranto Mayor Resigns: What Does Bitetti's Choice Have to Do with the Ex-Ilva Steel Plant?
Respect to two scenarios A and B proposed by the Government (the first with three electric furnaces, four Dri plants for the pre-reduced iron and as many plants for the capture and storage of CO2; the second with only three electric furnaces), the Municipality of Taranto he proposed a third hypothesis which confirms the Municipality's refusal to allow the landing of the regasification vessel and that, given that today the former Ilva uses approximately 2 billion cubic metres of gas per year which arrive through the existing network, he believes that this amount of gas is sufficient to begin the decarbonisation process basing it on three electric furnaces, a single Dri plant (the pre-reduced iron) and a plant for the capture and storage of CO2.
The City Council has essentially proposed a first step, pending future developments. Now, however, with Mayor Bitetti's resignation, the entire discussion, at least on the City Council side, risks being stalled. In his communications regarding his resignation, the mayor speaks of "political feasibility." The mayor, who was supposed to leave City Hall and the ongoing meeting with environmentalists for an urgent family matter, was prevented from leaving City Hall. Outside the glass entrance hall, the atrium was filled with dozens of people who, at one point, attacked the mayor, shouting "murderers, murderers."
Indeed, almost all environmental associations reject the program agreement on the decarbonization of the factory, which was being painstakingly negotiated among the various competing interests. "We have witnessed episodes of outright squadrism," commented sources close to the mayor regarding the incident. Moreover, the meeting itself between the administration and environmentalists unfolded in a very heated and clearly tense atmosphere.
Meanwhile, they express their solidarity with the mayor of Taranto Pd and Minister Urso himself (who in the meantime has spoken with the prefect and the Minister of the Interior, Crying himself).
Taranto Mayor Resigns: Doctors and Public Health
Meanwhile, in view of the discussion on the industrial future of Taranto and the proposal for an inter-institutional agreement put forward by the Government, theOrder of Physicians, Surgeons and Dentists of the Province reiterates its position: the protection of public health must remain an absolute and non-negotiable priorityIn a statement signed by President Marialetizia Marra, the Order recalls its Position Paper of June 13, 2019—already submitted to the authorities—and confirms that "health, both individual and collective, is an inviolable right that must be placed before any other, however legitimate, consideration." The Order is proceeding with an updated revision of the document in light of the most recent epidemiological data and structural changes that have occurred over time. Central, according to the Order, is the precautionary principle, which must guide every decision that could even potentially harm the health of citizens. The doctors hope that the authorities involved will make decisions with "peace of mind and full autonomy," putting the interests of the Taranto community first.
