All confirmed. It was supposed to remain a secret summit, but in the end it became a real hit in the winter. From pavilion G of the Sardinian Trade Fair at Santa Gilla airport, voices do not chase each other, they crash. After all, only an illusion could keep an operation that aims to place the strategic asset of the Sardinian airport, Cagliari-Elmas airport, in the hands of the American and Italian financial funds. A Greek-style operation, with the landing in Sardinia of high finance ready to steal, as has already happened in Alghero and Olbia, the gates of entry to the Nuraghi Island.
Inquiry & silence
The publication by the Sardinian Union of the documents revealing the attempt of an underground financial "coup" in the corporate asset of Sogaer and the revelation of the Fiera summit for the ratification of the operation has turned the spotlight on the future of the intercontinental airport of the Sardinia. After all, the names at stake could not go unnoticed. Who could have believed that the financial giant BlackRock or the Italian fund F2i would have moved to act as a stool for Sogaer, the 94% company owned by the Cagliari Chamber of Commerce? The "Christmas package" bowed with illusionistic reassurances provided that Americans and Italian financiers put the money and others enjoyed it. An illusion, in fact. In every corner of the world where “BlackRock” (black rock) has landed, with small or large stakes, it has never thought about development and employment, but only about dividends, the financial ones. Not a strategic operator with whom to promote the tourist growth of Sardinia, but rather a real aspiradenari functional only to guarantee the income of wealthy pensioners around the world who invest in certain and safe dividends. If no direct financial income is produced for American investors, it cuts from workers to security, from promotion to development. An epochal change of strategy for an island like Sardinia, which has always been isolated and exploited. An airport that from a public infrastructure functional to the growth of its land, capable of attracting tourists and the economy, would turn into one of the many financial ATMs useful only and exclusively for the financial affairs of American and Italian funds.
Underground Colosseum
Keeping everything concealed, silencing this operation, was a bit like selling the Colosseum without telling the Romans. Ambitious goal, as presumptuous. And, in fact, the toy broke up a few hours after that informal and "friendly" meeting that we reported in yesterday's edition. If at first the road seemed cleared for the operation passed off as "painless", the Sunday awakening was an unbridled crash for Italian-American dreams. One of the most powerful components of the Cagliari Chamber of Commerce, Confcommercio, led by Alberto Bertolotti, launched a ground-to-air torpedo capable of opening a heavy rift on the entire airport operation. The words are sharp, fiery and explosive.
Dear President
A reasoned and no-appeal rejection, capable of opening a very deep watershed between those who, like Confcommercio, want to defend the "public and Sardinian" role of the Chamber of Commerce at all costs and those who, instead, (Confindustria) are ready to give up arms and baggage to Americans and F2i partners. Alberto Bertolotti's press release bursts into the editorial offices before the midday bells and leaves no room for doubt. The open letter is addressed to the «dear President», and «to dear Maurizio». Translated it is Maurizio De Pascale, president of the Chamber of Commerce of Cagliari. It is he who in the austere hall of pavilion G of the Fair indicated - according to Bertolotti - "the desire to ask the Chamber Council for authorization to proceed with a negotiation with Ligantia, BlackRock and other investors, aimed at establishing a single entity to which to lead the management of the three Sardinian airports of Alghero, Olbia and Cagliari ».
Ghiotta, not for Sardinians
What follows is summarized in the conclusions: «In practice, therefore, it seems to us that the final result of this operation could become that of a real sale of the airport… without selling it! And that this risks leading us to lose the course of our public role. For this we appeal to the members of the Council and the Chamber of Commerce so that, with a burst of awareness, pride and dignity, you are not allowed to proceed along this very dangerous road. Although very useful and very delicious. For few. Not Sardinians ». Not just an explicit denial of the operation, but the warning of a real holy war to defend the public role of the Sardinians' airport. Bertolotti again writes on behalf of Confcommercio: "It is not admissible that an argument of this magnitude, capable of determining a definitive change in the governed structures, of determining lasting repercussions on the entire economic fabric of our Region and social consequences of such far-reaching dealt with in such an informal and restricted environment and without even an extensive report and supporting documentation. First, but obviously not the only one, the place dedicated to such a confrontation and to the discussion of such a topic, is not even the Executive but the Chamber Council. And this, in consideration of the nature of the extraordinary administration ".
Intolerable mischief
Confcommercio's arguments are explicit: "This is the most important asset owned by the Chamber of Commerce of Cagliari-Oristano, perhaps the most important public asset in Sardinia, certainly the last lever still in public hands in the transport chain to and from for Sardinia. And therefore every decision in this regard is to be considered a real act of political direction and not merely executive ". A substantial appeal, with a recommendation for the form: "Any mischief is intolerable." The rejection of the operation by the representatives of the traders of the most powerful organization is clear: "The path you have outlined (reference to De Pascale) involves the establishment of a corporate entity between the Chamber of Commerce of Cagliari and Oristano and two giants of international finance. Including one, BlackRock, "the largest investment firm in the world".
They don't think about the Island
"Subjects - continues Bertolotti - whose sole purpose can obviously only be the mere financial return to be guaranteed to the shareholders, scattered around the four corners of the planet, and certainly not the economic and social repercussions on the entire Sardinian business fabric and on the population of our Region. Subjects for whom "our" Mario Mameli airport would become just a table of numbers and indicators and not the place where so many people work, thanks to which many companies produce and which guarantees, more than any other regional infrastructure, the mobility of all Sardinians ".
The Greek risk
The risk of selling off the government of the Cagliari airport is around the corner: "It is our belief - writes the trade organization - that the Chamber of Commerce of Cagliari and Oristano, while paying the utmost attention to even the most hidden contractual clauses , agreements and shareholders' agreements, would be an earthenware pot between skyscrapers and would risk disappearing from governance already in the short term. We do not like the “Greece model”. All the more so now, with the many government funds available under the PNRR ». The war to save the Sardinians' airport is only just beginning.
(8.continue)
