Brindisi municipal council debates Aliotto investment amid legal deadline

The Democratic Party (PD) says it supports investments in principle but wants to protect the existing commercial fabric in Brindisi. The council received a detailed proposal from the company Aliotto for a degraded area only a few days before a scheduled meeting, giving councillors little time to examine the documents.

A year ago the original resolution was withdrawn, and the municipality lost a related legal case. A court ruling set a deadline; if the council does not act, a commissioner will be appointed to decide, with the costs charged to the municipal budget. The council argues it cannot vote under such judicial pressure because the decision would be a forced ratification rather than a genuine choice.

The area was originally intended for tourism, and the shortage of hotel beds in Brindisi has been highlighted by regional president Antonio Decaro and mayor Giuseppe Marchionna. While the PD recognises the value of free enterprise, it stresses the need for a thorough assessment of the project’s impacts before any vote.