Bardolino Council Approves Updated Statute Amid Political Tensions

It ends with a toast of white wine. After closing the midday city council meeting, an unusual hour but not a new practice for the Ferrari administration, the majority and minority bury their differences and raise their glasses.

In ten minutes, no more, they finally found a unified stance on the only item on the agenda. The discussion focused on the renewal of the Municipal Statute, originally drafted in October 1991, which needs updating following the enactment of Law 127 of 1997 and Law 265 from August of the previous year.

The current statute, however, only applies to provisions concerning the functioning of the city council, while in all these years, due to the lack of implementing regulations, articles related to the election of the Civic Defender and advisory referendums remain ineffective.

Opposition and City Council convening

To expedite a process already initiated by the municipal administration, the opposition group «Bardolino beyond the Two Thousand», armed with Law 142, forced the mayor to summon the city council.

«Faced with such a provocation, it became almost natural for us to set the session at a particular time,» the mayor explained.

But to quell any emerging protests, the mayor immediately assured that future meetings would return to a more traditional schedule, with city council sessions held at dusk.

«Our action was not a provocation,» responded Pietro Meschi, «just an invitation to colleagues not to waste more time. We have already drafted a version of the Statute and are ready for discussion».

Discussion and approval of the Statute

«Our proposal,» the mayor replied, «is to postpone the discussion until October, when the drafting of the new Statute will be entrusted to lawyer Fratta Pasini, a well-known legal expert who has previously worked with our municipality (cost of the assignment 5 million plus VAT, ed.)».

Of course, individual points will then be debated within the council among the political forces. Our interest is that this important working tool receives the approval of the entire city council.» The proposal was accepted to maintain peace among all.