Councilor Tancredi, between anger and resignation, says, "I'm the scapegoat on which to place all responsibility." And now the guessing game begins for his successors.
Milan, July 21, 2025 – A speech imbued with resignation, bitterness, and disappointment, but also with pride in his work—knowing "he has a clear conscience"—and, at one point, even a " defiance ," so to speak, in implying that the issues uncovered by the judicial investigation will not magically be resolved with his departure . All these sentiments were present, and there was even a moment of emotion, in the speech by the resigning Councilor for Urban Regeneration, Giancarlo Tancredi, implicated in the investigation into urban planning by the Milan Public Prosecutor's Office, this afternoon in the City Council.
" In my current position, with investigations underway," Tancredi said, "I can only add a few considerations. As for whether my actions were not motivated by any illicit intent or personal interest, I can only defer to the judicial authorities. I want to emphasize that my life, both professional and otherwise, has always been guided by ethical and moral values, which have always been recognized by many, in many contexts, including in my time as councilor for the last nearly four years. My conscience is clear; I have performed my work with passion, commitment, respect for all, fair dealing, and a profound love for my city."
Tancredi, The mayor, who took the floor after Mayor Sala , at one point made no secret of his bitterness. "I hope this gesture of mine," he emphasized, "will help bring about greater serenity and bring about clarity and justice as quickly as possible. I would also like to add some considerations that are appropriate for this forum, a political and public forum. Besides being saddened by this investigation and the work I will not be able to complete , I am disheartened and deeply disappointed by the position expressed in recent days by some of the ruling parties in this city."
"With all due respect to the principle of civil and democratic guarantees, the only principle is to set aside those who now constitute a cumbersome burden , to offer a sacrifice to those who ask for those changes that in reality I was already working on with the new Territorial Government Plan", underlined Tancredi who claimed responsibility for his work: "Some examples, already made public on several occasions: the Atlas of Neighborhoods , a project for the redevelopment and strengthening of the public city, sustainable mobility, greener streets and squares; the increase in social housing in private projects, already a cause of tension with operators and builders".
"The substantial reform of the morphological rules," he continued, "with the elimination of exemptions and the regulation of heights; rigorous compliance with environmental and social requirements to be able to exceed the basic building index; strong public direction and an even closer relationship with the municipalities. These are all proposals of the undersigned in the ongoing revision of the PGT, shared with my colleagues in the Council , which went precisely in the direction of a new urban planning phase . The discontinuity that is being requested was, and is, already underway. But once again, they are trying to reduce complex issues to political tactics and the identification of a scapegoat on whom to unload all responsibility ."
The gauntlet"It will be interesting to see, with the disgraced city councilor for the game removed , and still in the absence of that comprehensive national reform law whose definition and approval I have always hoped to see, how 'Milan's urban planning' will change—if such a definition even makes sense. As if it weren't governed by a complex set of political strategies , ideal values, sometimes rapidly evolving needs, and public and private interests. A set that it is ultimately the public administration's job to synthesize, in the primary interest of the collective common good," Tancredi concluded.
Giancarlo Tancredi, born in 1961, holds a degree in architecture from the Polytechnic University, a "pure" technician with no political experience, is thus leaving the scene after managing and coordinating the major redevelopment plans that have reshaped much of the city's face over the last decade. As stated in his official CV on the City of Milan's website, Tancredi has worked with "particular expertise" on the most important urban planning projects in our city, including the Porta Nuova area, Portello, City Life, Expo 2015, and Milan. ind, the Darsena, the disused railway yards, Santa Giulia, and the stadium area. Appointed councilor in 2021 with the second Sala administration, taking over the reins of the department from Pierfrancesco Maran (Democratic Party), Tancredi had long been the director of the Urban Planning Sector at Palazzo Marino.
And his successor could come from the Polytechnic . While it's premature to talk about it today, the ongoing investigation, which promises new developments, and the hot, indeed, steamy dossiers left by Tancredi on his desk, don't give Sala much time to decide who will handle it. The appointment will be made by Wednesday at the latest. In the spirit of political impartiality and neutrality.
A name like Elena Granata, professor of City and Territorial Analysis and Urban Geography at the Milan Polytechnic , who would also strengthen the " pink quota " within the Council and an expert in city analysis. She could represent the signal of discontinuity in land management and urban planning called for by the Democratic Party on Sunday during the meeting with the mayor . Granata had spoken out, in the aftermath of the storm unleashed by the notices of investigation, criticizing a model of city development based on vertical growth: "Milan's ambition cannot be to build skyscrapers in courtyards."
Il Giorno
