“I thank the government for the trust. I can only be inspired by the precious work done with the president Rainer Masera, with whom I have worked splendidly over the years and to whom all my gratitude goes”. These are the words Mario Virano, just appointed by the Government as head of the Italian delegation of the intergovernmental conference of the Turin-Lyon TAV.
Masera's resignation was formalized on 28 June. Since then, the search for an appropriate figure for the job began: in pole position, in addition to Virano, there was also Sergio Chiamparino – former mayor of Turin -, but last July 12 Corrado Passera, Minister of Development and Infrastructure made his choice. Virano will be joined by the new general secretary Rossella Napolitano.
The purpose of the nomination is “ensure administrative continuity”, they say from the ministry. This is why Virano was selected, enthusiastic about building the Turin-Lyon high-speed railway and also welcome to the French authorities involved. Louis Besson, head of the French delegation, sent him a letter in which he underlined how "the only official declaration of the new French authorities to be considered valid is that of the President of the Republic, Francois Hollande". A declaration that goes hand in hand with the announcement that the next bilateral summit planned in Lyon will have the Tav dossier as its central theme.
Thus a new chapter opens for the Italian-French Intergovernmental Commission on the Tav. to the architect Virano the strong support of his staff and of the whole government for the realization of the Tav".
