Fincantieri, towards a discussion table in the Region

The conflict between the Municipality of Monfalcone and Fincantieri has become a national issue and the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, with President Fedriga in person, will take action to resolve it. This is the scenario emerging the day after Deputy Prime Minister and League leader Matteo Salvini spoke out. In a lengthy interview with the newspapers Il Piccolo and Messaggero Veneto, Salvini denied there are any rifts within the League and appealed to "realism and common sense" to resolve the issues between the shipping giant and the municipal administration. Salvini dismissed the possibility of a "political dispute" within the League, pitting Fedriga against former mayor and now MEP Annamaria Cisint. "They give voice to different sensibilities," the League leader curtly remarked. And referring to the conflict between Fincantieri and the Municipality of Monfalcone, he proposed a specific approach: "Are there differing points of view? Good, the Region should soon convene a meeting in Trieste with Fincantieri and the mayor of Monfalcone at the same table, to discuss the existing problems, but above all how to resolve them," said the Deputy Prime Minister, who—according to Telefriuli—spoke yesterday with both Fedriga and Cisint, as well as other key players in the dispute. The League leader's political perspective is clear. "Fincantieri," he says, "is a world-class company, that's for sure. But it's equally certain that its growth has implications for the local community, whose needs cannot be ignored." At this point, the path to resolving this complex issue seems clear, meeting with the consensus of both Fedriga and Cisint, who had already mentioned it in recent days: a roundtable discussion in the region.

This discussion could be held soon. One possibility, pending confirmation, could be next Thursday, November 13th, when Fincantieri CEO Pierroberto Folgiero will be in Trieste for a meeting of the shipbuilding giant's board of directors.