Riva Budget Debate Delayed, Opposition Calls for Social and Regional Reforms

A third session was not enough to approve the 2000 budget forecast for the Comune di Riva: everything was postponed until last night, with an agreement to continue indefinitely until a resolution is reached this year, which has indeed been a tumultuous process.

Even that evening, the opposition did not refrain from scrutinizing certain budget chapters down to their very core, forcing the relevant councilors to provide the requested explanations.

Details on the budget discussion

It should also be clarified that, although the opposition parties seem to aim at undermining the mayor’s administration, they in fact proved crucial in ensuring the continuation of the debate, since the majority faced difficulties, even if only momentarily, in guaranteeing the quorum: “This is serious,” commented Aurelio Delaini, “and shows how some members of the majority do not respect those who voted for them.”

Nevertheless, aside from this setback, the discussion proceeded without any particular shocks, as neither assessore Matteotti nor assessore Torboli referred anymore to the heated exchange from the previous evening, where a governmental crisis was narrowly averted due to diverging views that appear to have become insurmountable between the two regarding the methodologies to be followed for proper city administration.

Developments and proposals

The ruling groups have also indicated that, for now, their goal is to get the budget approved, but it is not excluded that, following this important act, they might finally settle the situation once and for all.

In the meantime, some motions have been presented by the opposition forces, as a follow-up to the positions taken during the debate:

The first (Daves and Delaini) concerns the need to create a social center in Riva del Garda that can host the 192 disabled residents of the Alto Garda who are currently forced to travel far from their families to specialized centers in Trento, Rovereto, Lenzima, or Levico;

The second (again by Daves and Delaini) urges the council to approve the regional authority’s value and push for a reform of the organization;

The third (proposed jointly by Daves and Prati) aims to involve the administration in organizing thematic assemblies on the community’s most pressing issues, highlighted also during the budget debate.