Listed as the ideal candidate for the presidency of the Province of Ogliastra by the center-right regional coalition, he was cut out of the agreement between Tortolì (with its greater electoral weight), the Democratic Party, and Alessio Seoni, mayor of Villagrande. Angelo Stochino, mayor of Arzana, stepped aside "in the name of unity." However, now that the game is over, he has a few things to say. "I know some have called me 'inconvenient,' but I've never seen political engagement as a personal matter . On the contrary, I believe that today, more than ever, we need to prioritize unity and the collective good over any individual ambition." Stochino has twice received over 5,000 votes in the regional elections in the last 15 years. "These numbers have frightened those who preferred to veto rather than face an open competition. I believe, however, that challenges should be won through dialogue and ideas, not vetoes. I want to thank the many administrators who made themselves available, not for a seat—which was also unpaid—but for a project." His commitment to the united list is not in question, but the bitterness about how things turned out remains.
" I believe, instead, that challenges should be overcome through dialogue and ideas, not vetoes. I want to thank the many administrators, both right-wing and left-wing, and independents, who expressed their willingness both to run and to develop a program and a symbol that I will gladly make available to anyone who wishes to use it. Receiving this willingness confirms to me that what convinced them wasn't a seat—and an unpaid one at that—but the strength of a serious and shared project." The word unity prevails in his thoughts.
I have renounced my candidacy, choosing instead to contribute to the creation of a united list, or one with the greatest possible political consensus, that brings together the best of Ogliastra's energies. Only with unity can Ogliastra truly have a say in regional decisions that go beyond the province's limited powers. In conclusion, I hope that the new president and councilors will be able to represent Ogliastra with authority and responsibility, restoring dignity to an institution that must once again be an instrument of the territories, not a land of division.
