(ANSA) - Rome, May 30 - Rome mayor candidate Stefano Fassina of the Italian Left (SI) party told an ANSA Forum on Monday he was independent, unlike rival runners Virginia Raggi of the 5-Star Movement and Roberto Giachetti of Premier Matteo Renzi's Democratic Party (PD).
"Raggi and Giachetti need written authorizations to make statements on important issues," said Fassina.
"I don't need authorizations. "I'm independent from figures who can (try to) condition me".
Fassina also proposed created a minimum-income benefit for poor households in the capital. "Our dignity-income project covers 13,000 poor Roman families with children who have not been aided by (central) government interventions," Fassina, a former junior economy minister who split from the PD last year, told the ANSA Forum. "With 45 million euros, we can lift 30,000 poor children above the poverty threshold". He said that the money to finance this measure could be found by renegotiating the city's mortgage on its debt with State lender Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP)". He added that Giachetti's call for the left to unite behind him if he makes it to a run-off vote and Fassina does not was made because the PD "is in trouble now".
Unlike Raggi and Giachetti, I'm independent says Fassina
SI candidate says others need authorization to speak