Naples—"My intention today is to continue as mayor of Naples and complete the work I've already done. The city still needs a lot, and I don't want to leave the job half done."
With these words, spoken during Repubblica's event "The Alphabet of the Future" at the Gallerie d'Italia, Gaetano Manfredi effectively dispelled any reservations about his re-election to lead the City of Naples, one year before the end of his term.
The former rector of Federico II and current national president of the ANCI explained that his priority remains "doing everything for Naples," emphasizing the importance of a policy rooted in the local communities and not focused solely on grand ideological narratives.
"Mayors," he said, "play a fundamental role because they confront citizens' real problems every day. A new, progressive national proposal must begin with caring for people, not just ideological battles. If we weaken public services, we weaken democracy."
"More unity in the center-left: abstentionism is the real enemy."
During the public debate, Manfredi also addressed the center-left's stability in the upcoming regional elections in Campania, which will see Roberto Fico as the unified candidate and outgoing president Vincenzo De Luca remain the key figure.
I hope that, after this meeting, there will be greater calm in approaching the election campaign. All moments of change are complex, but unity is needed in a region where the center-left is strong, has been in government for ten years, and is committed to continuing.
Manfredi then issued a warning: "There are two challenges today: one against the center-right and one against abstentionism, which is the real winner of the last elections. A democracy in which people don't vote is a weak democracy."
(h3)“In politics, we need generosity and less personalism”
The mayor of Naples called for a change in the way we understand political activism: "We need more generosity, because politics is about service. We must be able to shed our personal selves and put ourselves at the service of the collective interest. We must not have enemies, but adversaries: if we pursue a politics of enemies, we will end up in Trumpist excesses, where autocracy prevails over democracy."
"Irreversible choice: the center-left must remain united."
Manfredi finally commented, albeit cautiously, on the internal debate within the Five Star Movement following the recent regional elections, reiterating the need for a solid alliance within the progressive camp:
"I believe that choosing a clear position within the center-left is irreversible. In a majoritarian system, if you want to make an impact, you have to be on one side or the other: the third way is just testimony."
The mayor concluded by emphasizing that the real political crux remains the development of a shared national project: "More than the sum of the parties, what matters is the political proposal: what vision of Italy do we want to build. And on this," he added, "there is still much work to be done."
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