Italian towns Altopascio and San Vito grapple with local political disputes

In Altopascio, former councilor and ex‑mayor Maurizio Marchette criticised Mayor D'Ambrosio, accusing him of “immobilism” and highlighting the recent death of Gian Marco Bertozzi. Marchette said the centre‑right aims to expand its presence by replicating a Viareggio‑style coalition of highly qualified civic candidates and pointed to the distribution of €130,000 in voucher payments as a political tool.

In San Vito, the municipal council faced a legal clash after the Regional Administrative Court declared the decadenza of councilor Angelo Padiglia illegal. Mayor Marco Antonio Siddi argued that the councilor, not the municipality, should bear the legal costs, which total over €8,000. The dispute raised questions about responsibility for the councilor’s four consecutive unexplained absences and the broader interpretation of councilor accountability.

Both episodes illustrate ongoing tensions within small Italian municipalities over party strategy, legal accountability, and the use of public funds in local politics.