Naples, Italy – The Tar Campania has ruled in favor of the regularity of Fulvio Adamo Macciardi’s appointment as Superintendent of the San Carlo Theater in Naples. The administrative court rejected the appeal lodged by the Mayor of Naples, Gaetano Manfredi, solidifying Macciardi’s leadership despite a complex legal battle involving multiple appeals and counter-appeals.
Mayor Manfredi’s Challenge Rejected
Mayor Manfredi, acting as the president of the Foundation’s steering committee, had contested the appointment, arguing that it occurred after two irregular meetings convened and held in his absence. However, both the Civil Court of Naples and now the Tar Campania have deemed the process followed by the majority councilors – Marilù Faraone Mennella, Gianfranco Nicoletti, and Riccardo Realfonzo – to be compliant, a decision previously validated by the Ministry of Culture’s nomination.
The Legal Proceedings
The appeal, presented by Manfredi and Maria Grazia Falciatore (a councilor representing the Metropolitan City), and defended by lawyers Gianluigi Pellegrino, Eduardo Savarese, and Alessandro Barbieri, sought the annulment of the Ministry of Culture’s decree appointing Macciardi as Superintendent and all related acts. Conversely, councilors Faraone Mennella, Nicoletti, and Realfonzo, assisted by lawyers Giuseppe Ceceri and Massimo Villa, defended the correctness of their nomination proposal.
Judges Declare Appeal Inadmissible
The judges of the first section of the Administrative Tribunal (President Vincenzo Salamone, reporting councilor Giuseppe Esposito, first referendary Pierangelo Sorrentino) found the entire process to be correct and declared the initial appeal inadmissible, rejecting additional grounds. According to the judges, the agenda of the August 26 session allowed for the reiteration of the previous proposal to the Ministry on August 4 for Macciardi’s appointment, even after the departure of dissenting councilors. Furthermore, Macciardi’s selection was deemed legitimately made, as the board members considered the candidates’ qualifications and curricula, with his artistic and professional qualities being undisputed, even by the appellants themselves.
Councilor Realfonzo’s Reaction
Riccardo Realfonzo commented on Facebook, stating, “No surprise. The TAR also confirms that our work was correct, and Fulvio Macciardi was appointed Superintendent in full compliance with the law. We hope that now all forms of litigation and controversy will cease, and we can all work together in the interest of our extraordinary Theater.”
Mayor Manfredi’s Response
Mayor Manfredi offered a nuanced reaction, saying, “We must distinguish the procedural aspect, because the sentence speaks of inadmissibility and therefore does not go into the merits, from the more factual aspect. I have always repeated that the real issue is that we must have a governance of the San Carlo that is integrated with the territory and that strongly looks at the international quality of the theater.” He added, “Let’s see what the programs are, what the projects are, and we will evaluate them. I talk to everyone, but I talk with facts. When we have a precise framework of what the wills and projects are, I will dialogue with everyone.” The former minister also highlighted the need for coordination with the Region. “Now,” he emphasized, “the regional governance has changed, and so we will move synchronously, President Fico and I, to ensure that the voice of the territorial bodies is heard on the management of the theater.”
This ruling marks a significant development in the leadership of the prestigious San Carlo Theater, allowing Macciardi to continue his work with reinforced legitimacy. The focus now shifts to the future programs and projects under his superintendency, with local authorities expressing a desire for unified efforts to enhance the theater’s international standing.
