Another coup-de-théatre in the telenovela between Rome and its mayor Ignazio Marino, who resigned until yesterday when he instead reconsidered and decided to remain in his post, despite the now evident aversion of his own majority and above all of the leaders of the Democratic Party . In fact, the twist this time was announced: "Quota 25" has been reached and even exceeded, or the minimum number of councilors (half plus one of the City Council, made up of 48 members) necessary to dissolve the Marino junta as of today, not even 24 hours after the grand return.
In addition to the 19 councilors of the Democratic Party, who resigned en bloc on the recommendation of the president of the party Matteo Orfini, exponents of other groups, both majority and opposition, such as Roberto Cantiani (NCD), Daniele Parrucci (Democratic Center), Alessandro Onorato (Lista Marchini), the two Fittians (and former Alemannians) Ignazio Cozzoli and Francesca Barbato, also disheartened Marino. Svetlana Celli (Marino Civic List), and Alfio Marchini himself could also be added to the list.
“It's all in order, it's all over by tonight”, assures the now former Councilor for Transport Stefano Esposito who adds: “Already on Monday the prefect Franco Gabrielli could nominate the commissioner“. So Marino pulled the plug, after yesterday his lawyer, Enzo Musco, had communicated that the mayor is actually being investigated by the Rome prosecutor's office in the case of the receipts. "A dutiful act", commented Marino from the Auditorium, where he had promised that he would comment on the investigation. "I am convinced that I have explained my reasons and my transparency well: I am absolutely convinced that I have never used public money for private purposes, if anything I have done the opposite", he added.
The on-again, off-again story was harshly commented on by the Vatican newspaper Osservatore Romano, according to which "it is taking on the contours of a farce", while Marino himself quoted Salvador Allende: "I don't feel like a martyr, I'm a social fighter who keeps faith with the task that the people have given him".
