Italian government dissolves Mazzarrà Sant'Andrea council over alleged mafia infiltration

The Council of Ministers, acting on a proposal from Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, ordered the dissolution of the municipal council of Mazzarrà Sant’Andrea, citing mafia infiltration and undue influence under article 143 of the Italian local‑entity code. The town will be administered for the next 18 months by an extraordinary commission to be appointed by President Sergio Mattarella.

Mayor Carmelo Pietrafitta, who has led the town since 2017, said he learned of the decision from the press, expressed deep disappointment, and announced he will challenge the measure before the regional administrative court (TAR). The decision follows a lengthy anti‑mafia investigation that linked former local crime boss Carmelo Bisognano and businessmen Antonino and Davide Giardina to attempts to steer public contracts and influence municipal officials. This is the second dissolution of Mazzarrà Sant’Andrea’s council in just over a decade, the first occurring in 2015 after similar findings of organized‑crime influence.