The Municipality of Bellinzona has taken office

The Bellinzona Town Hall is up and running. In Palazzo Civico, the swearing-in ceremony for the seven members of the City Executive elected on Sunday> They had to wait until Monday morning to find out the results of the ballot box, and for four of them the rite of office was completed. The ritual of signing the declaration of loyalty to the Constitution and laws was not a new experience for four of them: the outgoing mayor and reconfirmed ad interim Mario Branda (Left Unity), Simone Gianini (FDP), Giorgio Soldini (PPD) and Mauro Minotti (League/UDC) underwent it already in 2017 when the creation of the New Bellinzona was officially sanctioned. However, this does not mean that for the four re-elected members it was not an emotional moment. But more so for the three new faces in the City Hall of the cantonal capital: the two radical liberals Fabio Käppeli and Renato Bison and Henrik Bang of the Left Unity.

Even if it is a formal act, this year made even more «aseptic» due to the restrictions imposed by the pandemic that has limited the number of people present in the hall of the City Council to a minimum and prohibited musical interludes and a final aperitif, the ceremony is always full of solemn meanings: this was recalled by the Justice of the Peace of the Circle of Bellinzona Emma Crugnola in her speech preceding the issuance of credentials to the seven new municipalities of the City. A talk focused on the difficult period that we all are experiencing and which has disrupted our existence. « Despite the fatigue, we must regain momentum and confidence in ourselves and in others,« said Emma Crugnola, who wished the new municipalities to be effective communicators, but especially careful listeners of all the voices that will come from the neighborhoods. « Voices which will flow into the beating heart of the city where they will have to be transformed into concrete acts and projects,« added the Justice of the Peace, expressing the hope that in the legislature that has just opened, the political debate will take place under the banner of respect for people, institutions and the founding principles of our democracy. An invitation, with regard to what will be the work within the Executive, collected by the interim mayor Mario Branda who repeated that the ability to interpret this commitment is up to everyone: from municipal councilors to councilors, not to mention every single citizen.

Allocation of seats postponed

After signing the declaration of fidelity to the Constitution and the laws, and with the credentials «in its pocket», the City Council of Bellinzona can officially start working. For the allocation of the departments we must wait until tomorrow when Simone Gianini will release the provisions regarding the possibility of challenging Mario Branda for the mayor’s chair.