The Mediterranean Games in Taranto will not cover up the failings of politicians, trade unions and the Italian system

Taranto. Today, the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and half the government will be in Taranto for the opening ceremony of the 20th Mediterranean Games. They will be there to welcome the heads of state and the delegations of athletes taking part in this international sporting event, and to celebrate the opening of this event – which puts Taranto in the spotlight – live on Raidue. It is no coincidence that, more than six years ago, under the ‘yellow-green’ government and with the support of our friend, Governor Emiliano, this city was chosen as the sole candidate (from the entire Mediterranean) to host the event.

The idea, back when Ilva was still at its peak, was to present a new image of the city – one far removed from the steel fumes with which it had been associated in recent years, and more in line with the vision of the government of the time: mussel farms and eco-friendly aquariums. This idea was subsequently taken up and revived by the current government, which – following an initial intervention by the then Minister Fitto – decided to place the works and the previously inactive organising committee under special administration, and to increase funding to 350 million. In the meantime, Ilva has collapsed completely, with no possibility of recovery. Even the proposed takeover by the 14 Italian companies coordinated by Federacciai is not, in reality, an attempt to rescue Ilva, but only to save its rolling mills – to prevent them from falling into foreign hands. Ilva, as we have known it until now, and as it has been described to us by politicians, industrialists, trade unions, economists and industry insiders, will cease to exist. It will no longer be Europe’s largest steelworks, nor the only fully integrated Italian facility of its kind, which made Italian manufacturing – and the entire country – great. And this is certainly not solely the fault of the judiciary. Faced with all this, politicians cannot remain silent. And they certainly cannot do so by coming to Taranto merely to cut the ribbon at some ‘corporate games’.

Yesterday, in a message sent to the Quotidiano di Puglia ahead of the opening of the Mediterranean Games, Mattarella extended “a particularly heartfelt thought of concern and solidarity” to the citizens of Taranto, “who in recent times have had to face dramatic challenges relating to employment and health, economic development and quality of life”, expressing the hope that “starting with these Games, Taranto will once again ‘embrace the future’. Everyone hopes that his words will be followed by action, because ‘bread and circuses’ cannot be the hallmark of a state’s policy.

And this applies to both the majority and the opposition. Everyone is gathered in Taranto today to celebrate the city’s ‘revival’. Yet this can never be achieved through sport, tourism or food and wine alone. Despite the wonderful international showcase that the ‘city of the two seas’ will provide. And yet ‘embrace the future’ is precisely the motto of these Games. What will the ten thousand redundancies from the steel industry embrace? Whilst it is understandable that a government might try to conceal the major blunder made by the Minister for ‘Made in Italy’ (not coincidentally the only one absent from Taranto today), the same cannot be said of the opposition and a left-wing movement that ought to be defending the workers. Yet, according to the Taranto and Apulia regional governments, for years they have pursued the idea of development ‘beyond the hot zone’. Without ever realising this ‘beyond’. Except through ad hoc initiatives, funded by the public purse, and – just like Ilva – unable to stand on their own two feet. But, unlike industry, without ever managing to create a single job. As demonstrated, staying in Taranto, by the hundreds of workers on long-term redundancy pay for years in the Ilva catchment area at AS, Cementir, Evergreen and many other companies that were never replaced. Nor is the attitude of the trade unions comprehensible: they are prepared to bring half of Italy to a standstill every Friday over transport, education and fascism, yet faced with the most serious labour dispute of the century, they have decided to take their reserved seats tonight at the Iacovone Stadium. “May Taranto and the entire Ionian region rediscover a love for their identity and a healthy pride in being able to shape their own future today, looking towards the Mediterranean, Europe and the rest of the world” is the invitation that the CGIL, CISL and UIL extended in their “warm welcome to the distinguished guests”. No call for a ‘strike’ from Landini, who will certainly have further opportunities to attack Meloni and the ‘neo-fascists’ – but not today; let us not disrupt the celebrations. It could have been done in Sanremo when the FIOM stormed the Ariston stage to defend the Ilva workers in Genoa, but not for those in Taranto, who for the time being are offered nothing more than Albano’s performance in the new Iacovone theatre. There were eight violinists on the Titanic; the orchestra of Magna Graecia playing tonight in Taranto numbers many more. Mattarella’s warning remains, and it is to be hoped that it will not be ignored.