Martina Franca council deadlock stalls budget amid party tensions

In the southern Italian city of Martina Franca, the UDC council group consisting of Mauro Bello, Vito Basile and Fabio Chiarelli criticised the mayor after the municipal council failed to achieve a legal quorum, forcing a postponement of the budget settlement. The councillors said that internal divisions within the ruling majority were hampering governance and had already compelled the administration to draw on reserve funds to finance the patron saint festival.

In nearby Francavilla Fontana, the Democratic Party council group wrote to the mayor, the traffic assessor and the local police commander asking for a review of recently imposed no‑parking signs on Via San Vito. While acknowledging the goal of easing traffic, they argued the bans severely affect residents, shoppers and businesses, and suggested restoring parking on one side of the street to balance safety with local economic activity.