Naples. This morning, Comboni Father Alex Zanotelli, a historic figure in the fight for public water, chained himself to a tree in front of Naples City Hall to protest the amendment to the bylaws of the special company ABC (Water Common Good).
The Manfredi administration has approved the amendment, which will be submitted to the city council for consideration. Zanotelli fears that this change could pave the way for a profit-driven water management model, with negative consequences for rates and residents.
"Water is a common good," Zanotelli told the journalists present, "and as such must be removed from market forces.
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The concerns of Zanotelli They are shared by Alberto Lucarelli, professor of Constitutional Law at Federico II University and long-time advocate for the protection of common goods. "The council's proposal," Lucarelli explains, "has three critical points: the expulsion of representatives of environmental associations from the board of directors, the elimination of the participatory ecological budget, and the transformation of the oversight committee into a participation committee."
Lucarelli fears that these changes could lead to less transparent and democratic water management, with the risk of increased rates for residents.
Zanotelli and Lucarelli's protest has highlighted the issue of public water in Naples and Italy as a whole. The debate is expected to continue in the coming weeks, ahead of the city council vote on amending ABC's bylaws.
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