"No prejudice, I love Sardinia"

«Nooo, please don't make me pass for someone who hates Barbagia and Sardinia, where I have spent my holidays for twenty years and I have many friends. I am someone who has simply mentioned a territory that is not densely populated ... ».

Where, he said, illegal immigrants awaiting repatriation could be housed . There are those who have read reminiscences of the times in which Barbagia welcomed those who were sent there as punishment.

«But no, I mentioned Barbagia because I remember trips and excursions to Gennargentu, and for miles and miles we didn't meet a soul. It was the first example that came to my mind and yes, given the pandemonium that followed, perhaps I should have mentioned an area closer to me ... ».

Even the Lombard valleys, such as those of Trentino and Piedmont, have serious problems of decline in births and depopulation.

"It's so true. But I don't think that if I had mentioned Val Camonica, the inhabitants would have been so offended ».

In the aftermath of the externalization on the possible solution to the problem "of those who do not have the documents in order", Alessandro Rapinese, 46, mayor of Como elected head of a civic list since June, finds himself "with his cell phone on fire". His comment on the news of the Pakistani homeless man arrested in the city for rape and the reference to Barbagia to confine those who (the substance was this) jeopardize the safety of citizens, set fire to the anger of fellow administrators in Sardinia and even stoked ( not that there was a need) the electoral campaign of policies, in a general bipartisan indignation that mixes the theme of migrants with that of the depopulation of inland areas.

Mayor, the Sardinian deputy of Fratelli d'Italia Salvatore Deidda says that, to apologize, she has to post advertising posters for the Autumn festival in Barbagia all over Como.

«I'm sorry if the people of Barbagia, the Sardinians, are offended. It wasn't really my intention ... ».

Yes, but does Deidda post the posters or not?

«Listen, I want to say to Deidda that I really like having eliminated his party from the government of my city, and I also tell him that in Como Fratelli d'Italia will no longer govern. With my civic list I have beaten the right and also the left. Having said that, Deidda send me the posters: I will post them at my expense. However...".

However?

«I want to say that mine is not an act of brotherhood towards the Brothers of Italy. It is an act of brotherhood towards the Sardinians. I love Sardinia ».

Come on, now he looks like one of those singers on stage who has to curry favor with the audience ...

“Don't tell me this. I have been vacationing in Villasimius for twenty years in a row, I have visited the inland areas and Gennargentu, my best friend and my wife's best friend are Sardinian, my neighbors have surnames like Marceddu, Pistidda ... My two cats also come from Sardinia ».

Really?

«I want to clarify. How can you think that I harbor a prejudice against a land that I feel a bit mine? I mentioned Barbagia because, since I have been there and I know it much more than many areas of my Lombardy, it is the first example that came to my mind of a territory with large, sparsely inhabited areas. And so I said: let's send illegal immigrants there awaiting repatriation, in certain areas where there is no one and therefore they would not do any damage. That's all, there is no prejudice behind it ».

You were keen to underline the distance with the Brothers of Italy and the center-right, but on the subject of migrants you seem close to their positions. He puts it on the level of security, of alarm.

«Excuse me, but if I migrate to Sardinia on vacation for a month, I must have respect for the place ...».

Mayor, if you are on holiday in Sardinia you are not a migrant: you are a tourist, perhaps even well-to-do. Here we are talking about the poor of the earth.

"I just want to say that the fact of being outside a path of integration is a precise choice, because anyone who asks for hospitality and help from our country receives it".

Not exactly like that ...

“There are immigrants who are following a welcome path and others who are thinking of anything but integrating. The mistake is to confuse a migrant with an illegal immigrant ».

Cagliari plays in Como on Sunday. Missà who, to apologize, has to cheer for the rossoblu.

“No, don't ask me this (laughs). But I want to say that Cagliari is my favorite city, the most beautiful in Italy ».

Mayor, there is no need.

"I know corners and monuments ... It is madness that even Cagliari citizens can be pissed off with me."

Piera Serusi