John Toti has officially resigned resignation da president of Liguria. After 80 days of house arrest following ainvestigation into corruption, forgery and abuse of office, the governor announced his decision with a letter delivered this morning to the Region's protocol office by Giacomo Giampedrone, councilor of the Toti List. Now, the former governor will be able to ask for the lifting of house arrest, increasing the chances of success, as the threat of repeat offending diminishes without the assignment. This move will mark the beginning of campaign for the presidency of the Liguria Region, with two challengers already ready to take the field: Andrea Orlando of the Democratic Party, former Minister of Justice, e Edward Rixi, Northern League member and Matteo Salvini's deputy at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport.
Toti's letter: “irrevocable resignation”
In resignation letter, Toti - in office since 2015 and reconfirmed in 2020 - states: "I, the undersigned, Giovanni Toti, hereby tender irrevocable resignation from the position of president of the Regional Council of Liguria". The document recalls that Toti had been proclaimed at the helm of the Region by act of the central office for the election of the President of the Regional Council and the Regional Council of Liguria at the Court of Appeal of Genoa on 8 October 2020. The governor underlines that its decision was communicated to the competent authorities to ensure transitional management of the body and start the procedures for new elections.
Toti takes full responsibility for the decision to call elections early In the next three months, explaining that it is essential that citizens express themselves again to face the future challenges of the Region. He expresses confidence in the coalition that supported him, assuring that it will continue to pursue ambitious projects without selfishness. Toti underlines that he left "a Region in order" and that he waited for the approval of the budget adjustment by the regional council before resigning. He concludes his letter by inviting us to draw lessons from experience to define clear and fair rules for the relationship between justice and politics. Starting from now, Toti will return to being "a simple citizen of our beautiful Liguria".
His decision opens the way to a new phase for the Region, with the imminent start of an electoral campaign for elect the new president. THE elections they could be merged with those in Emilia-Romagna and Umbria. But when will we go to the vote? Everything will depend on whether the 1999 constitutional law, which provides for elections to be held within 90 days, or the 2004 national law, which establishes the deadline within 60 days, will be applied. In any case, between October and November the citizens of Liguria will be called to vote. Italia Viva, led by Matteo Renzi, has already announced its support for the center-left and that it will not present an independent candidacy.
The investigation towards its conclusion
The resignation comes while theinvestigation is approaching final bars and the risk of an immediate trial is high. Prosecutors Luca Monteverde and Federico Manotti could request an immediate trial starting from Tuesday 30 July, when the deadline for appealing against house arrest expires. However, Toti's lawyer, Stefano Savi, has already confirmed that no appeal will be lodged. In parallel, Toti will present a request for revocation of the precautionary measure that keeps him in his villa in Ameglia. If he were to be released, Toti could avoid immediate trial, but he could still receive notice of the conclusion of the investigation, which could lead to an indictment. With the prosecutor's office having to soon decide the fate of Toti, the entrepreneur Aldo Spinelli and the former president of the Port Authority Paolo Emilio Signorini, next week could bring decisive developments.
