He marched arm in arm with Maurizio Landini in the name of anti-fascism. He compared the Nazi-fascist massacre in Stazzema with the Israeli attacks on Gaza. He blessed the departure of the Flotilla, as the self-styled representative of Italy. Always with the tricolor band in beautiful sight. Silvia Salis, bubbly mayor of Genoa, is already the anti-Schlein, breathless secretary of the Democratic Party. She will be, the eternal foxes swear, the next prime minister candidate. There is no civil right or inequality for which the designated heir does not fight tenaciously. A mover, mover and a half.
«The center against the periphery, the rich against the poor, the companies against the workers» explained with enthusiasm the former minister Andrea Orlando, grand vizier of the Ligurian progressives. «Our strength is our people. Not the economic powers and the catwalks, but the people.” Any reference to the supposed profiteering of the opponents was intentional. Here: reading the extensive list of comrade Salis’ financiers, some doubts arise about the proletarian left. There are great entrepreneurs, noble families, unrepentant salonists. Many also had sympathies for those centre-right scoundrels, often the subject of vile accusations: from Giovanni Toti, the former governor, to Marco Bucci, his successor.
Instead, times change. All caballeros, finally. The 50 payments to the Mayor Silvia Salis Committee, during her electoral campaign, are published on the Chamber’s website. The total is almost 149 thousand euros: almost triple the money that went to his challenger, Pietro Piciocchi. But the list is incomplete: Parliament only records donations to parties and movements that exceed 500 euros. The overall aid is much more substantial. Be that as it may, those supporters are the city’s best bourgeoisie. Starting with three professionals then appointed in key roles.
Sara Armella, for example. She is a famous lawyer, a great expert in customs law. He donated 3 thousand euros. At the end of August, she became president of Palazzo Ducale, the most important cultural foundation in the city. The notary Lorenzo Anselmi, however, gave 2,500 euros. After all, he was Salis’ electoral representative. In July he was called to the board of directors of Ireti, which distributes gas and water. The company is a subsidiary of Iren, a multi-service company owned by the municipality. The manager Enrico Franchini gave the same amount. In mid-August they appointed him to the board of directors of AMT, the Genoese transport company.
The lawyer Andrea Pericu, a university professor, also paid 2,500 euros. He is the son of Beppe, former mayor of SS. However, it is the other daughter, Silvia, who also perpetrates the political tradition, also a professor at the Genoese university, called upon as councilor for the environment. Another former mayor did not hold back either: the Marquis Marco Doria, who gave 1,500 euros. One of the many nobles on the list.
But in the list there are many illustrious exponents of great Genoese business families. Anna Pettene, who gave 3 thousand euros, is the wife of Edoardo Garrone, president of Erg, a multinational energy company. In 2016 his candidacy for the centre-right was hypothesized. Nicola Costa, heir of the famous shipowners, was more modest: he limited himself to a thousand euros. Beppe Costa, also a member of the glorious lineage of the same name, then donated 3 thousand euros. Patron of the Genoa Aquarium, he was considered close to Bucci and Toti, who had wanted him at the head of the Palazzo Ducale.
Edoardo Monzani, president of Stazioni Maritime, which manages passenger traffic in the port, seemed to have similar sympathies. It is a subsidiary of Gianluigi Aponte’s MSC group, which a year ago also bought Secolo XIX, the historic Genoese newspaper. Monzani contributed 2 thousand euros. The same amount paid by the accountant Giorgio Mosci: one of the “wise men” who pushed Bucci’s candidacy for mayor, later appointed president of the Porto Antico.
Several companies have also supported the cause. Like Distribuzione Acciai, owned by the holding companies that refer to the Malacalza family, former owners of the Genoese bank Carige. He gave 5 thousand euros, little more than what was reserved for Salis’ opponent. The same amount turned over by the entrepreneur Giorgia Serrati: knight of labor and president of Icat Food, which imports and distributes preserved fish. Healthcare is also well represented. Villa Montallegro, also a sponsor of Toti’s electoral campaign, transferred another five thousand euros. It is the most important private structure in Genoa. It’s a shame that the left has been complaining about this against the Ligurian council for months. The secretary of the Genoese PD, Simone D’Angelo, went so far as to attack Stefano Balleari, president of the regional council. He had the nerve to inaugurate a private clinic. A choice of rare “political inexpediency”, given that “public health is falling apart”.
If companies and supporters have not skimped, it would be difficult to argue that allies have delivered with equal impetus. The only exception is Carlo Calenda’s party: Action. He paid 7 thousand euros. On May 26, after the election, Parioli’s Churchill rejoiced: «Congratulations to Silvia Salis. A tough campaign, uphill and among the people who carried on with courage and determination. A beautiful victory, well-deserved, which is good for the Genoese and beyond.” Except that now the much detested Renzi is counting on her to reunite the center-left, under the shaky roof of the nascent reformist House. So Carlo, who knows the former Scrapper well, suggests that she not let herself be fooled by Matteo. Not very simple, in fact.
Silvia denies it. He wants to stay in Genoa, of course. Very few believe her, however. Of course, looking through the list of supporters, the center-left star already seems to possess one of the main qualities of his discoverer: a robust spirit of adaptation. She herself, in an interview with the local edition of Repubblica, complained: «First I was the perfect candidate for the centre-right, then I became the dangerous extremist with the hammer and sickle, then I returned to the one with the Rolex on the boat who governs for the strong Roman powers, then again the one on the left who blocks the works».
Here: in reality he seems to wear the most suitable outfit every time. It was very chic, mermaid design and sweetheart neckline, the one worn for the very exclusive party at Palazzo della Borsa for her 40th birthday. Unforgettable party. Full of politicians, stars and powerful people. Behind the scenes, as always, was her husband: Fausto Brizzi, already the protagonist of Leopolda at the time when Matteo had bewitched Italy. Now, however, on the stage of the Renzian event, his wife is being acclaimed: the young promise of the prêt-à-porter left. And like her great admirer, the mayor manages to enchant great managers and high aristocracy.
Among the donors there are also former presidents of Confindustria, refined nautical clubs and famous lawyers from the BonelliErede firm. But the one who paid the most is the Marquis Giacomo Cattaneo Adorno: 10 thousand euros. Already sentenced to four years for complicity in extortion, he fled to Brazil and was granted a pardon in 2006. Now he is the vigneron who has relaunched Ligurian white wines. But he also remains a builder. The hill of Vesima, to the west, is his property. An area of 10 thousand square meters, ready to be built. The Genoese council, four years ago, authorized the construction of 60 villas.
An unspeakable scandal for the Democratic Party. The quickest to accuse was Alessandro Terrile: then group leader in the city council of the Dems and now deputy mayor of Salis. He even gave Bucci a mocking 2021 Trowel Award, pointing the finger: «Where there is greenery it is covered with cement. And Mr. Cattaneo will earn around 70 million euros. Maybe then we will discover that he will be a financier of the center-right electoral campaign.” Or maybe from the center-left.
