The memory of the 'green' Monguzzi, for everyone a fighter
From his youth militancy to his battle against the sale of the San Siro: he never made concessions even to his political side. He passed away after a quick illness
by Sara Monaci
Carlo Monguzzi, historic leader of the Greens in Milan and in the city council, is no more: he passed away after a short illness, at the age of 74. In these hours everyone remembers his battles, true and sincere, without hesitation, which always characterised his politics and especially his last years, during which he did not spare fierce criticism to the same centre-left majority, which he had also supported at the administrative elections.
The issues he had recently been passionate about were Milan's urban planning vision, in his view short-sighted and incapable of providing answers to the weakest, and the sale of the San Siro, against which he has always animatedly taken sides, believing it to be a speculative operation that would only benefit the two teams, but not the city.
His voice came from the left, and that is what hurt the Milanese junta the most. But there's more: Monguzzi was also listened to. By other politicians, by the citizenry, by journalists, by associations. He was a fierce and at the same time calm voice. Frank and direct, but never rude. A powerful mix that made him the protagonist of a long political season in Milan. For him, a mathematics professor, politics had become his life for decades: his was not only the point of view of an environmentalist, but also that of a man in favour of civil rights, a keen observer of city dynamics as well as international ones.
Considered - especially by the centre-left - often vague and too ideological, Monguzzi never betrayed himself. Mayor Giuseppe Sala also remembered him this way: 'A fighter has gone. We often did not see eye to eye, but I respected him for his political commitment and our mutual affection never failed. He was the only one who addressed me in the council chamber not as 'Mayor' but as 'Beppe'. Those who do not frequent politics cannot understand how harsh public confrontations and solid private relationships can coexist. Even the last time he came to my office, in recent months, we had a heated discussion and left each other with a hug'. In this description is all Carlo Monguzzi, militant with a human face.
His last post was as a Milanese councillor with Europa Verde. He was born in Milan, became a chemical engineer at the Politecnico, then a mathematics teacher.
