The municipality manager Giambattista Marotto cannot be commander of the local police of Cagliari. What is in doubt is not the person ("it is necessary to specify that the seriousness, sacrifice and work commitment are not questioned, on the contrary: we thank him") but the legitimacy of the appointment.
The CSA union expressed its doubts, through a statement signed by the company representative in the Municipality, Massimiliano Caboni, and by the provincial secretary Fabrizio Lecca.
Marotto, who governs the Soil Hygiene service, has held the position since June 2023, when he took over from Guido Calzia, "and the need to have a full-time commander is starting to be felt". There is a recent ruling from the Council of State which confirmed «a now constant jurisprudential orientation», specifying that «the managers of the municipal police can exceptionally take over the management of ordinary offices of the institution, but not the opposite (i.e. external managers to the local police they cannot become commanders of the same)". And not even an interim would be allowed.
«These principles and clarifications», underline Caboni and Lecca, «leave no doubt about the possibility that a failure to review the appointment of commander of the corps by the mayor could expose the organization to the adoption of flawed acts and decisions or voidable with any related consequence". That is: there is the risk that documents signed by Marotto will be invalidated. «Without considering the effect that this would have on the image of the members of the local police force of Cagliari», add the trade unionists, «the doubt on the legitimacy of the appointment as commander can, however, create embarrassing situations at the meeting table with the Police Headquarters, at the table of the Order and Security Committee of the Prefecture and, more generally, during the delicate and particular activity of the judicial police which responds directly to the Public Prosecutor's Office".
Despite the repeated requests and guarantees received «for an immediate “buffer” solution», the workers' representatives say, «the lack of a decision and the uncertainty that hovers following the recent regional elections do nothing but exacerbate discontent over the possible consequences of the matter and greatly worry the Agents and Officers of the Corps who fear "anarchy" and "confusion"".
Enrico Fresu
