She rejects the resignation of her Culture Councilor Luca Mereu, who called Laura Pausini a "bitch" after her performance at the opening ceremony of the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. And she reiterates her position, announcing her candidacy for mayor of Sant'Antioco.
Ignazio Locci's double-take comes with a video posted on social media: the mayor immediately addresses the blunder by his council member, which had sparked intense controversy in recent days, followed by an apology, for the lack of institutional "relevance" in his description of the singer. Then Locci breaks another piece of news, which could obscure the first.
"Regarding the recent lapse in style, Councilor Mereu has tendered his resignation," the mayor began, adding: "I have decided not to accept this resignation because I recognize that years of work and dedication to the city cannot be judged by those serious words. But I certainly don't disparage Luca Mereo as a person with those words. I believe it's wrong to confuse the terrain of political debate with subjecting him to media pillorying, even for a serious misuse of words."
Then the shift in focus, with the announcement of his re-election: "I've decided to refocus on the issue of city governance. The city needs credibility, people who care about their work, who care about the city's goals, and that's why I'm announcing that I will run for a third term in the mayoral elections of May 2027. Much has been accomplished, and much remains to be done," Locci emphasizes. "I've decided to continue this effort," he concludes, "I do so with a certain emotion, but listening to the hearts and voices of the citizens who have strongly encouraged me to move forward."