Domenico Lacerenza, a 66-year-old ophthalmologist, born in Barletta but "Lucanian for over a quarter of a century", in his first political commitment, is the centre-left candidate for the regional elections scheduled in Basilicata on 21 and 22 April.
The agreement was reached by Pd, M5S, Avs, +Europa and also found the consensus of Angelo Chiorazzo, who had been indicated as a candidate for governor by Basilicata Casa Comune.
It will therefore be a doctor - Lacerenza is the director of the Ophthalmology Sic (Complex Inter-company Structure) of the San Carlo di Potenza regional hospital, the most important in the region - who will challenge the outgoing governor, Vito Bardi (Forza Italia), re-nominated for leadership of the centre-right coalition, which should expand to Italia Viva and Azione.
The lists will have to be presented on Friday 22nd and until 12pm on 23rd March: the feeling is that both parties of the former Third Pole will include their representatives in the lists in support of the former general of the Guardia di Finanza, who was elected in 2019.
Even five years ago, when Bardi won with 42.2%, for Basilicata the centre-left chose another doctor, Carlo Trerotola (who stopped at 33.1%), without significant political experience, a few days after the presentation of the lists .
"For me, who have always dedicated myself to the profession of full-time doctor - Lacerenza told ANSA a few minutes after his candidacy was made official - it is my first political position: I will do my utmost to be up to it".
A "profile of high professional depth", highlighted in the joint note from Pd, M5S, AVS and +Europa who, together with Basilicata Casa Comune, asked "by mutual agreement" Lacerenza "to offer his availability as an interpreter of a solid political and social project to bring about a turning point in the administration of the Basilicata Region".
Lacerenza "enthusiastically accepted the challenge. The regional government agenda proposed" by the centre-left coalition, "strongly supported by Lacerenza's candidacy - it is written in the note - envisages first and foremost offering quality healthcare to all Lucanian citizens : an essential challenge to relaunch a territory that has suffered profound discomfort regarding the enjoyment of the right to health and the right to treatment".
Therefore, with a surprise blow, the question of the candidacy for the center-left ended: Lacerenza's name, at least publicly, had never come up.
And so Chiorazzo underlined that "the identification of Lacerenza as the candidate for president of the progressive camp corresponds to the choice of a civic profile strongly committed to social issues, of a profound knowledge of Lucanian healthcare and its problems, of a person who has decided to put aside his professional life to give a service to this land. All this is in line with that new history that we had hoped for, proposed, asked for", concluded Chiorazzo who should now field some lists in support of the centre-left candidate.
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