Antonio Bassolino: "The Manfredi administration should be closer to citizens."

Last Monday, July 14, Antonio Bassolino attended the public meeting held at the Polisportiva Partenope . The meeting followed a sit-in by families and parents the previous week, an initiative launched to try to save the sports club. " There were differing ideas, " Bassolino told l'Unità . "Partenope is, in fact, an important organization, from a sporting perspective, due to the number of top athletes it has trained, but also from a social, civic, and community perspective. We're talking about a sports club with over a thousand members. More than a thousand young people practice sports in the city center. And it was wonderful to see this spirit of participation. Their mobilization bought us time, which is crucial to finding solutions until the sports club is saved. The situation is difficult, but we must continue to fight for a common goal. But this can only be achieved if all the institutions involved—the government, the region, and the municipality—work together with a strong spirit of institutional collaboration ."

Interview with Antonio Bassolino

The very principle of institutional collaboration has been a mantra for Bassolino 's political activity, both as mayor of Naples and as President of the Campania Region . " In the political context ," explained Bassolino , now a city councilor in Naples , " it is normal and legitimate for there to be differences and conflicts between parties. It's part of the democratic process. But collaboration between institutions is essential, regardless of political affiliation. This collaborative spirit is useful for resolving more or less serious political issues ."

The 'Partenope case'

And it must be said that the current municipal administration, led by Mayor Gaetano Manfredi, has managed to emerge from the institutional isolation caused by the previous administration, establishing good relations both with the Region, presided over by Vincenzo De Luca , and with the government, despite the center-right majority in Rome led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni . " The path of collaboration must be pursued on all important issues affecting the city, " Bassolino reiterated. " However, it is also necessary for the Municipality to move towards concrete action and develop a more human relationship with the city. It is essential for the mayor and the councilors to be more out there, closer to the people. They must focus on the little things that ultimately become the big things, such as potholes and transportation. This requires a different approach ."

The spirit of collaboration and a municipal administration close to the citizens

It's no secret that Naples has become perceived as a city with a strong tourist vocation and a magnet for major events , yet still lacking in providing essential public services and thus a high standard of living for its citizens . One example is the numerous concerts held in Piazza del Plebiscito . Regarding the occupation of the symbolic square of the Campania capital, L'Unità is waging a civil battle, defending the demands of thousands of people held hostage by live music and a city center increasingly plagued by chaos, traffic, and filth. On this issue, Bassolino , the mayor who returned Piazza del Plebiscito to the Neapolitans, is also clear: " It's obvious that Piazza del Plebiscito, Naples' main public and symbolic space, needs to be used more carefully. This is one of those cases where the administration must be capable of maintaining the right balance between organizing these events and respecting the needs of citizens ."

Fighting Abstentionism: Participation and Democracy

Finally, we spoke with Bassolino about the future . Whether, given his extensive political, institutional, and activist experience, we can afford to be optimistic about the times to come and their prospects. " On the political level ," Bassolino stated, " and I'm referring to both our local and national reality, there is a major issue that needs to be addressed: abstentionism. Be careful, today's abstentionism is no longer a populist phenomenon like it was a few years ago. Today, those who abstain are making a political choice: they are voting against by choosing not to vote. Abstentionism is the leading party in Italy. This is an issue that concerns everyone, especially the left, but also center-right forces. Because this dynamic influences and penalizes our democratic life. We need to understand that there is an entire field to conquer, not by taking votes from other parties but from the abstention pool. To do this, we need to rethink the way we do politics, the way we represent ourselves within society, the way we communicate, and the issues we pursue. This must be the primary objective of political forces. Because defeating abstentionism means restoring participation to people and therefore infusing democratic life into our society ."

FROM

Andrea Aversa