After multiple postponements due to institutional commitments, the President of the Puglia Region, Michele Emiliano, arrived at Palazzo San Macuto in Rome around 10 a.m. to be heard by the Anti-Mafia Commission. Emiliano is being called to clarify alleged connections between politics and local criminality, which are at the center of the recent judicial investigations in Bari. The President, Chiara Colosimo, requested to speak to him specifically about two issues: the anecdote he shared during a demonstration on March 24, in which he claimed to have taken Decaro to meet the sister of the boss Capriati, and the alleged leaked information on April 10, related to the arrest of Alfonso Pisicchio and his brother Enzo (known as Roberto). Those arrests were initially planned for the following Monday, but were carried out hastily the previous Wednesday, coinciding with Alfonso Pisicchio’s resignation from his position as commissioner of Arti Puglia, the regional innovation agency.
The issue of the alleged messages sent by Emiliano to former councilor Alfonso Pisicchio, urging him to resign due to an investigation that had accelerated, caused a verbal confrontation with President Colosimo. She questioned Emiliano about the messages, the source of the information regarding the investigations, and why he did not report the leak. Emiliano responded by reading a press release sent out prior to Pisicchio’s arrest, and then stated that the question was inappropriate for the purpose of the hearing. He denied engaging in any non-transparent conduct and expressed willingness to cooperate with the Prosecutor’s Office if further investigation was required. Emiliano pointed out that the alleged messages had been acquired by the Prosecutor’s Office, suggesting that the prosecutor was the proper authority to provide answers.
Regarding the incident involving the meeting with the boss’s sister, Emiliano admitted that he may have provided inaccurate details during his speech and acknowledged that if Bari Mayor Antonio Decaro claims not to have been present at the meeting, he is likely correct. Emiliano recalled a similar event at Cattedrale Square, where Decaro alerted him to potential threats and he intervened to protect his colleague. They did not report the incident to the police as Decaro’s account did not mention any criminal activity. Emiliano emphasized that his actions were aimed at protecting his team members and ensuring their ability to work without interference.
The hearing with the Anti-Mafia Commission delved into Emiliano’s involvement with individuals connected to criminal activity and his response to potential leaks of confidential information. President Colosimo’s inquiries touched on the alleged messages sent to Pisicchio prior to his arrest and Emiliano’s handling of the situation. Emiliano maintained his innocence, stating that he had not engaged in any misconduct and offering to cooperate with the authorities if needed. The discussion also covered Emiliano’s recollection of the incident at Cattedrale Square and his efforts to protect his colleagues from potential threats, highlighting his commitment to supporting and safeguarding his team members in challenging situations. The episode sheds light on the complex relationship between politics and criminality in the region of Puglia and the measures taken by officials to address any allegations of wrongdoing.
