Boccia is new Confindustria chief

(ANSA) - Rome, May 24 - Salerno businessman Vincenzo Boccia was elected new president of the powerful and influential industrial employers' lobby Confindustria by 87% of members Wednesday. The vote was mere ratification of a March 31 contest that saw Boccia prevail narrowly over Bologna industrialist Alberto Vacchi. After that vote the outgoing president, Giorgio Squinzi, called on Confindustria to now put potentially divisive squabbles behind it and rally around the new chief.
    Boccia, for his part, said Confindustria must now move ahead without dispute after being apparently split right down the middle by what might be seen as a rather contentious election.
    "There is no such thing as positive or negative events, but only conditions from which to restart," Boccia said.
    "We believe it is possible to forge a path of evolution, continuity and change, because the complexities facing us do not allow us the luxury of arguing," he continued.
    Boccia won the backing of 100 of the 192 people who took part in the March meeting of Confindustria's general council, compared to 91 for Vacchi.