Salemi

Vittorio Sgarbi the current mayor of Salemi whom has put Salemi on the global map has announced he may resign. Since his appointment in July 2008 Sgarbi a popular Italian critic of, officially, art but also of almost anything is regularly seen on national Italian TV expressing his views.

 Regionally in Sicily his campaign against wind turbines has generated opposition from the Sicilian “politicians”. Locally in Salemi his key project “1 euro houses” has struggled to take off due to local administration issues.

His good work is been attacked from every angle, only recently he is under investigation by the Italian authorities for personal use of the council car.

His patience is running out and stated “If in my official role as the mayor I am to suffer from official investigations for such minor things as the use of a council car that transports me to and fro then I will resign.”

His reaction has triggered national support for him to stay. Some have said he must not give in to local “businessmen” or the campaign for a democratic Sicily is over.

Editors comment:  Sgarbi should have been aware that operating in Sicily was going to be difficult. The car investigation is simply part of a campaign to harass him, there has been and there will be more. If he quits then the campaigners win their fight. He is doing a good job for Salemi and the image of Sicily. A man of his calibre should not be deterred by local issues but he should see the bigger picture and continue. We also need to remember that Sgarbi is a self promotion marketing guru and this could simply be a bluff to draw attention to his own brand and to put Salemi under the spotlight prior to the launch of his many initiatives that are finally due to be launched including the 1 euro house and the 150 year Garibaldi celebrations.