Siracusa municipal government undergoes cabinet reshuffle

The municipal government of Siracusa has undergone a cabinet reshuffle under Mayor Francesco Italia. Marco Zappulla has been assigned the strategic portfolios of Culture and Tourism, as well as Human Resources, Youth Policies, and Leisure. Zappulla previously managed Social Policies, a role he is passing to Giovanna Porto. Porto, a social worker with experience in mental health, will now oversee Social Policies, Family, Equal Opportunities, Gender Policies, and Housing Rights.

The reshuffle has drawn political criticism from Paolo Romano of Fratelli d’Italia, who questioned the political implications of assigning an additional assessorate to the Grande Sicilia party, suggesting it may shift the administration's internal power balance.

Separately, regional deputy Carlo Auteri has called for increased transparency regarding the management of Siracusa Risorse, a company owned by the Libero Consorzio, to ensure it is not used for partisan interests. Auteri also requested an urgent inspection of a residential care facility (RSA) in Lentini following reports of inadequate patient care and serious medical conditions among residents.