After more than ten years of administration by special administration, the Province of Oristano will once again have a president and a ten-member council, representing the 87 municipalities in the area.
The second-level elections, scheduled for September 29th at the provincial building on Via Carboni, will pit two candidates for the authority's leadership: Paolo Pireddu, mayor of Villaurbana and provincial coordinator of the Brothers of Italy party, and Andrea Abis, mayor of Cabras, a center-left figure and former commissioner of the Oristano Land Reclamation Consortium. Candidates must submit their lists by noon on September 9th. This election marks an institutional turning point: after years of extraordinary management, the authority returns to political representation, with the weighted vote of local administrators.
Why did you accept the candidacy?
For Pireddu, the choice was a natural one: "I embrace the candidacy with a sense of responsibility. It's a challenge born from the local area and for the local area, with the aim of providing concrete solutions to local communities. The unity of the center-right has convinced me that this is the right path."
Abis, however, speaks of a long process of maturation: "I made this decision after careful consideration. The provincial body has lost its role and authority, becoming weak and distracted. It requires reconstruction and a broad vision. I felt compelled to make myself available."
Which parties and movements support you?
Pireddu's coalition encompasses the entire center-right: Brothers of Italy, Forza Italia, the League, PSDA, the UDC, Sardinian Reformers, and Sardinia at the Center 20Venti. "A compact, well-established coalition capable of ensuring representation across the entire province," emphasizes the mayor of Villaurbana.
Abis is supported by the so-called broad camp: Democratic Party, Five Star Movement, Green Left Alliance, Future Left, Progressives, Orizzonte Comune, and civic administrators. "It's a network of political forces and administrators that looks beyond political parties, open to the participation of civic representatives who are very present in city councils."
What main programmatic points do you propose?
Pireddu focuses on territorial development and services: "We want to enhance local resources, strengthen citizen services, and build a long-term strategic vision. The Province must regain its leading role in infrastructure and territorial planning."
Abis proposes an institutional reconstruction project: "One of the priorities is the creation of a provincial data observatory, for informed planning. Action is needed on roads, schools, the environment, and concrete support for small municipalities through a single procurement center."
What is your vision for the Province in the future?
For Pireddu, the Province must be "a driver of development and a guarantor of more efficient services, capable of communicating with the Region and the State but rooted in the needs of the communities."
Abis envisions "a reorganized, authoritative, and participatory body in the programming of European funds, which strengthens sectors such as fishing, agriculture, and primary production without depending exclusively on tourism."
How do you intend to convince the administrators to vote?
Pireddu is counting on proximity: "In the coming days, I'll be visiting municipalities in the province to listen to administrators and citizens. Only through direct discussion will a shared and credible proposal emerge."
Abis has chosen the method of public conferences: "Our process will be transparent and participatory, with meetings open to all administrators. We want to demonstrate that the Province can once again be a shared home, not a partisan instrument." On September 29th, a weighted vote will decide who will lead the new Province of Oristano. A challenge that, regardless of political affiliation, marks the return of politics to an institution that must regain its role and credibility.