«The Pippo Baudo of northern Naples, with relative bangs» .
So yesterday in a video on Facebook the Campania president Vincenzo De Luca criticized Maurizio Patriciello , the anti-Camorra priest "guilty" in his opinion of being on the list of personalities chosen by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to promote the reform of the so-called premiership.
A criticism that has sparked controversy.
«Dear President, dear brother Vincenzo De Luca, your irony towards a poor priest from the northern area of Naples, the same area of which you said: 'There is no State in Caivano', has pained me so much. If this was what he wanted, he succeeded", the reply on social media from the parish priest, who went further when speaking to Rainews.
«I was taken aback by De Luca's words. The political problem between right and left concerns me little - his words -, I am the parish priest of this neighborhood and I turned to Meloni today, as in the past to Conte or Renzi . The government is keeping its commitments and it is my duty not only to say it but also to thank."
The priest added: «I am ready to embrace De Luca, I am a priest, but bringing me into play at this moment, I am under guard because the Camorra members put a bomb on me, means putting my life in jeopardy because he tells the Camorra members 'you did well' and this worries me, they are completely out of place words."
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who writes on social media, speaks of a "scary signal". «Father Maurizio lives under guard because he has become a target of the Camorra who don't like his tenacity in keeping young people away from drugs and crime. Instead of helping Father Maurizio, making him feel the support of the institutions, De Luca mocks him , and in doing so sends a frightening signal. I want to tell Father Maurizio that the State is there, at his side. Which is not alone. And that the men and women who have not exchanged institutions for the stage of a cabaret, but carry out their duties with discipline and honor, know and recognize the value of his sacrifices."
De Luca's rejoinder: «I learn with a troubled and contrite heart that the Hon. Meloni found a joke of mine regarding his performance on the premiership 'frightening', and the propaganda nature that characterized it. I am grateful and touched by the attention. But I'm scared of his fear. I would expect the Prime Minister, as well as the slackers, to be concerned about releasing our development and cohesion funds that have been blocked for a year, and thus allow the construction of works and the creation of jobs . We consider this the most effective response to criminal powers."
«As for Don Patriciello, it must be said with the utmost respect, but with absolute and definitive clarity, that we appreciate his battles, but that he does not have a monopoly on the fight against the Camorra », continues De Luca.
Finally, a clarification on his "joke". «In relation to the fuss raised by the Hon. Meloni, who evidently has nothing serious to talk about, it is useful to point out that my joke does not concern Don Patriciello, but the incorrectness of those who exploited for political propaganda purposes - when he presented the hypothesis of the premiership - public figures who they have nothing to do with constitutional reforms ."
(Unioneonline/L)
