"Today we are here to communicate to the Sardinians, especially to those who have signed the Pratobello proposal, that we are still alive and we intend to carry on the battle with strength". Thus in Cagliari the mayor of Orgosolo, Pasquale Mereu, father of the proposal of popular initiative signed by 210 thousand people, during the press conference called by the committees against energy speculation.
The press conference was called, Mereu said, "to take stock after the conference of group leaders in the Regional Council voted against the emergency procedure for Pratobello , which will therefore follow a normal procedure. Some say "like any other law", he added, "but this is not just any law, it is a text wanted by many people, now snubbed and cornered, as they plan to corner the movement that promoted it. But we will not back down from the commitment made to the signatories and we will carry on the fight with democratic methods to wake up the regional and national political class". In short, "we have no illusions, but even those who row against should not think that we will abandon. We will carry on the fight to the end out of respect for the signatories".
Maria Grazia Demontis of Rete Gallura and lawyer Michele Zuddas also participated in the press conference. "We want to clarify some points that have emerged since October 2, the day the signatures were delivered," Zuddas explained. " Up until now only our opponents have spoken, they told us that Pratobello is an unconstitutional law, instead the text refers to article 3 (exclusive competence in urban planning matters) of the Statute which in turn is a constitutional law." This, he added, "is a law that cannot be treated as an ordinary law precisely because it is accompanied by an unprecedented mobilization in Sardinia, Italy and Europe." For this reason, he underlined, "we demand respect for those who have committed themselves and those who have signed the law and we ask that it be voted on in the Regional Council and not in the secret rooms of the commissions, away from prying eyes. The aim is to bury the law to make it ineffective. We ask that the group leaders reconsider."
There is also another aspect: «The Marche Region has requested an extension of the terms of legislative decree 199, of 90 days, so there is not even the urgency of approving the law on suitable areas by January». This demonstrates, concludes Zuddas, «that there is the political will to put aside the Pratobello law in favor of a law that responds to Roman diktats».