Lega Serie A, Simonelli accepts the position. Casini: “Independence needs to be verified

Journalist

December 22 – 08:34 – MILANO

One email was enough to exasperate the conflict: a PEC – certified email, with legal value – sent by Ezio Simonelli to some recipients of the League, from vice president Percassi to councilors. Subject: presidency of the League. Inside is the announcement of acceptance of the position, after the former regent of Serie A had been voted by 14 clubs on Friday, enough to reach a quorum. In addition, the communication of resignation from positions deemed incompatible with the new role, because potentially in conflict of interests. Therefore Simonelli “resigned” from the position of alternate auditor in Fininvest and mayor in Mondadori (Emilio Gatto already took over his place), companies linked to Monza. A document which, for Simonelli and his supporters, is complete. The manager around whom the majority gathered quickly took steps to interrupt all relationships, even indirect ones, with the companies represented at the meeting, as required by article 10 of the League Statute regarding the necessary independence of the president. Article 14 gave him two weeks: he did it in a few hours.

Declaration

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The same document is however judged incomplete by the other party. Lorenzo Casini, who considers himself president until the dispute is resolved, read the email even though his address was not among the recipients. An act which for him is not sufficient to satisfy the requirements of total autonomy, i.e. “not having any relationship in any capacity with the associated companies and/or with the reference shareholders”: to be flawless it should have been integrated with a declaration of total independence also with regards to his simple professional activity (that of an accountant linked to the Berlusconi family), in addition to the reference to the actual roles from which he resigned. A part that for Simonelli's supporters is already clearly exposed, black and white. And which Casini continues to claim, with a further invitation: if he receives it in the correct manner, he will be willing to “dismiss” the Council called two days ago and set for Friday 27, and officially proclaim Simonelli as his successor. Also because the Council only has consultative power: if it deemed Simonelli ineligible, the issue would return to the assembly. Assembly which, however, has already exposed itself: vice-president Percassi yesterday confirmed the election in a note. The case is different in which Simonelli himself wants to convene the Council to judge his own position: an oddity.

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week of fire

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The Council remains scheduled for the weekend. But Monday will already be a key day, even unprecedented. Casini will send the documents to the councilors to ask them to be judged at the meeting that will take place over the weekend. Remembering that the president is elected but not proclaimed precisely while waiting for this step, as per the minutes of the last meeting. And Simonelli? He will show up at the League's Milan offices, determined to begin his mandate. If he finds obstacles in his way, he is ready to involve the Federal Prosecutor's Office to take action to remove them. Another matter is that, once in office, it is one of the six companies opposed to challenging Simonelli's appointment and starting a new legislative process. No one feels like excluding him, on the contrary.