They cheered like Tardelli at the ’82 World Cup final. Arms raised to the sky, fists clenched, liberating scream. The investigation into the Bridge is better than a goal in the ninetieth minute. «The work must be stopped» exults the Five Star winner Giuseppe Conte. «This work is harmful from an environmental point of view» exults the piddina Elly Schlein. «Those fourteen billion must be returned to the Italians» rejoices the green Angelo Bonelli. «Unworthy subtraction of resources from the South» gloats comrade Nicola Fratoianni. “If they manage to steal before they’ve even started, they deserve the Nobel” concludes the imaginative Matteo Renzi.
They duel over everything: primaries, program, alliance. On one thing, however, the musketeers of Campo Largo remain united as one man: the stentorian aversion to great works.
Fiercely against all modernity. No, no and no again. The PCI began in the seventies with the demonic color TV. For the communists, colorful advertising would have led to excessive consumerism and inevitable bankruptcy. Times change, but impatience remains. Thus the Strait Bridge becomes absolute evil. Even in 1876, the then Minister of Public Works, Giuseppe Zanardelli, dreamed: «Above the waves or below the waves, Sicily must be united to the continent». But Pliny the Elder already told of a floating connection, built with boats and barrels. The year was 251 BC.
In the year 2026, however, the center-left still prefers the “ferribbotte” between Messina and Villa San Giovanni. How dare they design that steel monster if it still takes five hours and thirty-six minutes by train to go from Syracuse to Palermo? And do we want to talk about the battered highways? Or the exhausting waiting lists in hospitals? Here, exactly. Those resounding billions, the most enlightened minds of the coalition urge, should rather be invested in healthcare. On the other hand, at the first point of the unborn program they should stamp one word in large letters: benealtrismo.
In the vain hope of resolving the atavistic issue, Sicily would therefore remain well separated from the continent. Even more so now, with the corruption investigation looming: the three suspects would have tried to influence the opinion of the Court of Auditors on the work. But even the MOSE has been targeted by explosive investigations. First the controversies and protests and then, in 2014, 49 people were arrested. Today there is no inhabitant who does not thank the Lord. The system of mobile bulkheads saved Venice from disastrous floods. And the Salerno-Reggio Calabria? Over the years, the number of ‘Ndrangheta supporters arrested has far exceeded its 443 kilometres. Before, however, it took at least six hours to cover it. Now less than four are enough.
Bridges, highways, railways. The Democratic Party preaches environmental radicalism. The most faithful allies remain the turbo-environmentalists of Avs. And the axis with Maurizio Landini, Cigiellino’s indomitable secretary, becomes crucial. The No to everything party hopes to block Italy. And two weeks ago Ilaria Salis also arrived with great fanfare. After two combative years in Brussels, he joined the Italian Left: «We are building a real alternative to this ugly right», he announces. Not just property, houses requisitioned, no more prison. It is also a ribald and historical no Tav. The queen of Val di Susa in fact brings with her dowry indomitable social centers and rowdy suburbanites. Like those gentlemen from Askatasuna, who took advantage of the last Easter holidays to dedicate themselves to yet another attack on the Piedmont high-speed construction sites. Moreover, recalls the aspiring No Global leader, “that collective spirit will always continue to burn”.
Salis, however, boasts illustrious predecessors. «Who cares about going from Turin to Lyon!» Danilo Toninelli, the unforgettable Infrastructure Minister in the Josephite government, exploded in February 2019. To tell the truth, not even Schlein is excited about the indispensable “Mediterranean corridor”. So much so that the secretary’s position, in accordance with her usual vagueness, was renamed as follows: Boh Tav. However, the wavering Elly has very clear ideas about one thing: renewables. «We need to accelerate to reduce energy costs and dependence on gas» he informs. “It will be the first measure that a possible center-left government will adopt,” he promises.
The intent is shared, so much so that it becomes a banner. For Avs wind turbines and solar panels are essential. The 5 stars have always said it. It’s a shame that four of the six regions most behind on renewables are administered by Campo Largo. On the podium is Sardinia, led by the five-starred Alessandra Todde. It is the most blatantly hostile to clean sources: in the last two years it has not granted an authorization. The red grand duchy of Tuscany follows, governed by Eugenio Giani. Then the Puglia of Antonio Decaro, Dem champion, where over seven hundred projects remain pending. Stefania Proietti’s Umbria follows, criticized even by Legambiente and WWF: “It seems only concerned with finding quibbles.”
Beppe Grillo, deposed founder of the Movement, summarizes: «The so-called Campo largo effectively blocks renewables, with the emblematic case of Sardinia». Yet, the Five Star Movement and the Democratic Party are poisoning. The flip in front is amazing. Here is Patty L’Abbate, vice-president of the Environment Commission: «What is not convincing is the progressive downgrading of renewable sources». Opposed by colleague Todde. And nuclear power, which the government considers indispensable? “It does not represent a useful or timely response.” Even Annalisa Corrado, head of Ecological Conversion of the Democratic Party, is lapidary: «Renewables are the only choice we have». But illustrious Piddini administrators quibble. And the mini reactors just approved in parliament? «They would arrive in the first half of the 1930s. What answers do we give to families and businesses today?”. Insidious question that he avoids answering.
In short: full steam ahead on wind and solar. Super red cocks permitting, of course. And no nuclear. Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is focusing on the atom to achieve energy independence. And even Pedro Sánchez, Spanish prime minister and idol of the Italian progressives, wants the power plants. Even Pope Leo opens: «May nuclear power be at the service of life and peace». Not even the pontiff, however, leads our heroes into temptation.
Renewables, nuclear, drills, regasifiers. They won’t stop! The denial is transversal. It starts from the extreme left of the free-range Ilaria Salis, who showed up in Brussels with wedge shoes, to arrive at the very sophisticated Silvia Salis, who has never put an outfit wrong. The supersonic mayor of Genoa fought unreservedly against the skymetro, the elevated subway for Val Bisagno. The ministry had already allocated almost four hundred million. Salis indignantly refused: the environmental impact, he assures, would be devastating.
And then the allies, 5 stars and various ecologists, have always been against it. After much deliberation, the awaited alternative was therefore presented to the city. A traditional tram? Nope. A cable car. Like in Cortina or Courmayeur. Do you want to put wagons with the proletarians? Of course: it’s expensive, there are no benches and the pylons would be an eyesore. She got furious: “I don’t want to hear anyone complaining about how long it takes to go to the centre.”
The usual Genoese moaners. Luckily Salis has other plans. Nothing but smelly alleys. When he is at Palazzo Chigi, perhaps, he could propose the cable car again: between Scylla and Charybdis, this time. On the other hand, in the summer of 2020, the then Prime Minister Conte had put forward an equally imaginative alternative: “We should think of an engineering miracle”, he explained. «An eco-sustainable, lightweight structure that protects the environment…». So? «I’m thinking of an underwater tunnel».
Bold. Now, however, he preaches intransigence. Not the Bridge: «It is unfeasible». While waiting for the Josephan miracle, continue to use the “ferribbotte”.
