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In our opinion there is a difference between waste and social envy. Sometimes, when it comes to politics, especially because of those who fueled anti-politics by forgetting to say that less than’ 1% of the debt is due to political expenses, we forget about the fact that, as in any job or profession, those who are good should be fairly remunerated for what they are worth. An excellent politician could count 20.000 euros per month? In our opinion, Yes. A poor politician? Certainly not. Meritocracy is independent of anti-politics. Class hatred or social envy is left-wing rubbish…(n.d.r.)
Roberto Fico, new president of the Chamber, he reported expenses of 15 thousand euros in taxis in five years of legislature
Of Giuseppe De Lorenzo
Chapter one. Roberto Fico comes down smiling from’bus in Rome headed to the Chamber of Deputies of which he became the guide.
The photo is inevitable (promptly published on Instagram) which is making the rounds on social networks and inciting supporters of the sober president. Chapter two. Always Roberto Fico on a vehicle, this time Trenitalia, towards Naples together with his life partner: some passengers take pictures of him with their cell phones in second class. “Nothing should change from this point of view – he says – for me a lot is important. Today on the train, second class, taxi. Everything must remain simple and humble”.
Commendable, for goodness sake. Although some turn up their noses at the third charge of the State who travels together with ordinary mortals without the security that befits the institutional role (not to the person), Fico's choice is supported by political motivations. “It is the history of the Movement”, Luigi Di Maio said about him. And the story of 5 Stars is also the fight against privileges. It's obvious, However, that Fico's move is above all a marketing move. The first president of Five stars he can't possibly arrive with an escort and the hated blue car. At least not right away. And so he adapted to the propaganda already used by Renzi and Ignazio Marino with their bicycles. The fact is that the movements of the Honorable Fico as a deputy in the last legislature, the past one, they were not entirely free for citizens.
Here then is the third chapter, of which there are no photographs published on social media. Half protagonist: il taxi. In the five years of legislature (2013 – December 2017), the good Fico spent over 15 thousand euros on a white car for various trips. It is impossible to reconstruct on what occasions he asked the Italians for reimbursement (available on the site: tirendiconto.it), it certainly did so for an average of 281 euros per month. More change, pennies less. Not a reckless figure, but symbolically significant. To these must also be added other curious payments for bus tickets (and the subway) with which today he boasts of having arrived in the Chamber. In March 2017, to say, he took the trouble to report 1,50 euros of bus tickets. In May they were 4,50 euro and in April 7,50. In total they do 677 euros and thirty cents. A bit’ few for whom – the reporters wrote today – “he didn't change his habits” to travel with Atac. There are two hypotheses: or only had some of the tickets purchased refunded (and he put the rest out of his own pocket), or he didn't get on a bus that often.
To tell the truth on Fico already in 2016 a small controversy arose over his “golden phone” and bills of 12 thousand euros. After all, even for accommodation the expenses were not indifferent in his mandate “spokesman” grillino at the Palace. In December 2017 of the 7.582,50 euros declared by the new President 1.400,00 euros are gone for the rent and others 1.182,59 euros per “utilities, cleaning, maintenance and more”.
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