Verona Politics Erupts Over Airport Budget Vote and Internal Disputes

I adhere to what I have been told by the legal offices of the Comune, after reviewing the report from Professor Giovanni Alberti: if I had ignored it, I could have been liable for gross negligence, public treasury damage, and perhaps also for ideological falsehood. I don’t want to end up in prison…», says Mayor Michela Sironi when asked why the assessor Luca Darbi expressed a vote against the budget of Aeroporto Cattullo di Villafranca, of which the Comune is also a shareholder. He was the only among all shareholders to vote this way, while the two representatives of the Comune on the Board of Directors had voted in favor.

Reactions and Internal Consequences

This case is causing an earthquake whose end, neither the timing of the shocks nor the extent of the final damages, is known. Darbi-Sironi’s move was a surprise blow. In fact, according to Massimo Ferro, the resigning President of Cattullo, «a stab in the back». He also did not seem to appreciate the letter sent to him by the mayor regarding the «misdeed» committed: an appreciation of the activities carried out «despite recent differences of opinion on specific issues», with a final wish for success in his future projects (Ferro is President of the Chamber of Commerce) «far from those ‘culturalists’ of flattery from which we must be cautious».

Meanwhile, Ferro, who knows something about airport management, has decided to have his lawyers speak, contemplating lawsuits for slander and defamation. The change of leadership at Cattullo, therefore, has taken a backseat, with the appointment of Fernando Sanson as president.

Political Reactions

Assessor Darbi recalls that «the Comune had asked for time» to better evaluate the documentation provided and the requests for further clarification made by Professor Alberti regarding the budget. «Deciding in any case to vote», supports Darbi, «was an overreach against a shareholder who felt the need to safeguard Verona’s interests», especially regarding the separation of the Montichiari airport from Cattullo and concerns that the current shareholders might lose influence over the Brescia airport after having «launched» it into operation.

The mayor concludes, addressing those hinting at ulterior motives behind Darbi’s vote against the Cattullo budget (in the previous days, there was talk of Darbi as a candidate for president, which later went to Sanson): «Baseless insinuations. Beware of confusing personal relationships with institutional ones. That would bring us back to the First Republic… And I have a duty to protect the interests of the Comune».

Within his own party. Forza Italia, not everyone (in fact) has digested the unexpected move. Hon. Pieralfonso Fratta Pasini hopes «there were valid reasons supporting what happened»; the outgoing provincial secretary Giancarlo Conta even speculates about the possible «dismissal» of Darbi, demanding explanations from the mayor. Who responds: «I will give all the explanations requested, but I will also assign and withdraw the delegations myself».

The Hon. Aventino Frau, who has been very cold with the mayor for some time, is drastic: «And the emptiness of politics, the result of the complete lack of discussion on any important matter concerning Verona. When has there even been a discussion, not just about Cattullo but also about the Quadrante, the Master Plan, A2A, the role of banks?». The provincial secretary of Alleanza Nazionale, Alberto Giorgetti, also becomes irritated, speaking of «a personal and irrational stance», and calls for an immediate majority meeting: «Too many frictions during this period».

It might be true that personal issues should not be superimposed on institutional ones, but it is also true that institutions are represented by people. The three main institutions of Verona are the Comune, the Chamber of Commerce (led by Ferro), and the Province (presided over by Aleardo Merlin, who is much closer to Ferro’s positions than to Sironi’s): several economic entities are owned by these three institutions. And ultimately, a war among the three leaders would bring nothing good to the city.