Gianfranco Miccichè (author of the 61-0 victory in Sicily) leaves Forza Italia and passes to Lombardo's Mpa

After thirty years in Forza Italia, having been one of the pioneers of Silvio Berlusconi's party in Sicily, Gianfranco Miccichè (now head of the mixed group in the Sicilian Regional Assembly) has decided to leave the Azzurri to join the Mpa of former governor Raffaele Lombardo. He was the protagonist of Fi's most successful season in Sicily (the triumphant 61-0 win in the 2001 political elections was historic). 'Today, within the centre-right coalition, one can no longer even talk about civil rights. Forbidden. Meloni's is a right wing that is removing the values of the Fiuggi congress. She is doing repression. I do not identify with a party that cannot even discuss civil rights,' the former Sicilian coordinator commented, adding: 'I am sure Berlusconi would have understood and encouraged this path. 'Raffaele Lombardo's Mpa is the most coherent choice for those who, like me, have worked for Sicily and its autonomy,' Miccichè continued, 'A clear agreement at a crucial time for the future of autonomy. I will pursue with determination the line of the group that is part of the government majority with the hope of improving its proposals. I am certain that, if President Berlusconi were still among us,' he concludes, 'he would have understood and encouraged this path, seeing it as a necessity to tackle the challenges that our territory must now face.

This is a heavy farewell for Antonio Tajani. In fact, Miccichè is one of the founders of Forza Italia and the author of the famous 61-0 victory in the 2001 uninominals in Sicily. Berlusconi's former minister, now a regional deputy, therefore goes with Raffaele Lombardo. And he threatens to become a thorn in the side for the Azzurri, who still have 20 per cent in Sicily.

"In wishing the Honourable Gianfranco Miccichè a fruitful continuation of his parliamentary experience, with reference to the news in the press about his joining the parliamentary group of the Movimento per le Autonomie, it is worth pointing out that Mr Miccichè has not been a member of the Forza Italia parliamentary group at the Ars for some time now and that to date it does not appear that he has renewed his membership of the party for the current year,' is the comment made by Forza Italia in a note from the party's regional secretariat.

The news of Miccichè's farewell comes as boatos follow one another according to which Forza Italia is actively conducting a large acquisition campaign in Parliament. And the MPs about to join the Azzurri in September would also come from the ranks of the majority for the first time. After the arrival of the Pentastellato Trevisi, two Melonians from Fdi could move to the Fi group. One of these would be Trentino deputy Andrea De Bertoldi, who today resigned from the Fdi group in the Chamber.

"I have resigned from the parliamentary group of Fratelli d'Italia with immediate effect. At the resumption of work I will make, together with my political family, the assessments to identify my next allocation, which can only be marked by the values of moderation, and liberal Catholicism. My decision is the result of a long process of political dissent from the party, born to defend the reasons of my autonomous province from the party's desire for decision-making centralisation. I have also repeatedly asked for clarity on some important issues, which as a Catholic are close to my heart, but I have not always seen the response I hoped for. I went so far as to open a debate, but it fell on deaf ears,' de Bertoldi said in a note. 'The only response,' he added, 'came from the probiviri, with an instrumental and baseless investigation into facts that I have already had the opportunity to clarify extensively. Today I read that there would be an expulsion order. My political and professional freedom has allowed me a clear choice that can no longer be postponed. Moreover, I am ready to take action on this matter in any appropriate forum to protect my reputation and my personal and professional integrity'.