The Uncertain Capitol Battle

Municipal elections in Rome do not quite succeed without their share of surprises, absurd situations, and surreal controversies. Thus, the October 3 and 4 polls fizzled out a bit until an unexpected topic emerged at the beginning of September: the breeding of wild boars, which have been breeding in the suburbs for years and are also venturing out. Often in residential areas, invading golf courses and supermarket parking lots, sometimes causing unforgettable traffic jams.

After a question on social networks by angry residents, Rome’s mayor, Virginia Raggi, sought to put her responsibility in the case into perspective: “Wild boar control is a regional specialty”During a TV interview in front of Mediaset cameras, she declared the incrimination of Governor Nicola Zingaretti (Democratic Party), while all her election competitors mocked her answer and questioned the inaction of the City Council, and promised to solve it in the blink of an eye a problem that nonetheless plagues the lives of many City Council members worldwide. across Europe.

Who could want to pursue the impossible profession of mayor of Rome? Of course, there’s the international prestige of the job and the fact of sitting on Capitol Hill, with stunning views from the offices on the Forum. But for the rest, the job has all the poisoned gift. Sulfur Gianni Alemanno, mayor from 2008 to 2013 and former minister of Silvio Berlusconi, has seen his national career riven by scandals and still fights for justice for his role in the “Mafia Capital” case. His successor, Ignazio Marino, mayor of 2013-2015, was ousted by members of his own party, following a series of issues that collapsed after his exit from the Capitol.

debt-burdened city

Virginia Raggi was elected in June 2016 against the background of generally discrediting local elites, and was the embodiment of the new momentum that the 5 Star (anti-regime) movement wanted to consolidate in Italian politics. Sadly, once in office, she found herself grappling with the harsh realities of a debt-burdened city and facing the consequences of disastrous waste management and a transportation network. Après des débuts désastreux, Virginia Raggi est parvenue à redresser la barre, si bien qu’elle se représente devant les électeurs, malgré la faiblesse de son bilan, espérant atteindre le second tour en metphles les élitesésédés parés Town centre.

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