Turin district meetings go online and early as funds dry up

Turin's neighborhood council meetings are facing an existential crisis, with budget cuts forcing a shift to online, early-morning sessions. Opposition councilors in the 5th district decry the move as a blow to democratic participation, arguing it effectively excludes working citizens.

"This makes democracy exclusively for retirees," said Pasquale Frisina, leader of the 5 Star Movement group in the 5th district. "This is not grassroots participation. Scheduling a commission meeting at 9 a.m. online is equivalent to closing the doors, not opening them."

The controversy erupted after the council decided to hold some committee meetings in the morning following the summer break. For example, a meeting on a "hanging garden" project was scheduled for 9 a.m. via videoconference, and another on green space maintenance for 11 a.m. online. A budget committee meeting was set for just before noon.

Opposition parties – the 5 Star Movement, Democratic Party, Greens and Left Alliance, and Moderates – have signed a letter to the president demanding a return to the previously agreed schedule. They argue that the prior arrangement of online meetings at 2 p.m. and in-person sessions between 5:30 p.m. and 5:45 p.m. was designed to accommodate working councilors. They believe any deviation should be justified by genuine urgency, which they say is absent in this case.

The shift to early mornings is not a lighthearted change but a symptom of a deep financial crisis. By September, the district's funds for overtime pay for staff were depleted. To avoid budget shortfalls, the decision was made to alter meeting schedules, effectively curtailing the activities of these local administrative bodies.

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This makes democracy exclusively for retirees. This is not grassroots participation. Scheduling a commission meeting at 9 a.m. online is equivalent to closing the doors, not opening them.