From the cow market to “clientelism” to favoring one’s own political party. The Ambrogini case broke out, the highest municipal honor given to those who brought prestige to the city. They found themselves in the crosshairs, first of social media and Selvaggia Lucarelli and then of the mayor himself. Beppe Sala, were this year’s tasks. Including the one promoted by the league to comedian Andrea Pucci, who in the past has not spared insults towards Democratic Party Secretary Elly Schlein (“Alvaro Vitali and Pippo Franco together”) and homophobic jokes to Big Brother participant Tommaso Zorzi.
Sala did not name any names, but during his speech in the chamber he advised defending his city councilor, against whom a complaint had been lodged Motion of no confidence On the center-right side, he blurted out: “It’s time to divide people into those who are good and those who are not – was the mayor’s very sharp attack – between those who work, perhaps make mistakes, and those who don’t do much. All I’m saying is that the city council, the day after the demonstration it held against the election of the Ambroginis as patron, allowed itself to make such a motion against a working person, it’s shameful.” Chaos in the classroom. Meeting interrupted. Excuse me.
But Sala remains adamant and goes one step further: “If you ask me to say that there was no nepotism in the appointment of the Ambroginis, I cannot say that.” If anyone opens Google and searches for clientelism, they will read that it is a system of relationships between people based on favoritism, especially in the political sphere, in the name of mutual interest. What I am claiming is this sometimes Ambrogino is given to those who attack the junta. The way I look at it is that every year people are put forward who are suitable for a political party because they have worked to discredit the council over the course of the year.
The allocation mechanism is under attack and has been heavily contested in the past. The crucial step was when the delegation passed from the mayor’s hands to the city council and then to the parties. Suffice it to remember what happened when the center-left party, with the green light, proposed the name to the then mayor Letizia Moratti Enzo Biagi for the big gold medal in memory. The entire center-right majority voted against it. The rules have changed over time, but the controversies have not.
Has there been criticism of Ambrogino a.k.a. in recent years? Chiara Ferragni and Fedez, we must also remember the great rejections: Dario Fo in 1997, Robert De Niro in 2004, Elio e le Storie Tese in 2008, who, however, then in 2018 with a center-left majority in the government accepted honor. It is precisely this wavering movement, determined by the governing majorities and the oppositions that want recognition, that is decisive Discomfort and controversy.
Usually the extremes and provocations are eliminated at the end of the endless sessions in which names and characters are x-rayed. It happens that some names are omitted. However, Pucci seems to have no intention of taking a step back. On the other hand. In an interview with our Nino Luca he answers: “The Ambrogino d’Oro? Because for 30 years I have been giving the people of Milan lightness.” Would he make the homophobic jokes again? “Except I don’t remember it…but in comedy, political correctness has to be put aside.”