Naples Mayor: Some Votes Are Better Lost Amidst Council Dissolutions

Naples Mayor Gaetano Manfredi, who also serves as the national president of the Association of Italian Municipalities (ANCI), has made a pointed statement regarding the integrity of elections and the fight against organized crime's influence in local politics. Manfredi declared, "We have to understand that not all votes are equal. There are votes that are better to lose," a remark directly addressing the recent dissolution of several municipal councils due to mafia infiltration.

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We have to understand that not all votes are equal. There are votes that are better to lose.

Manfredi described the ongoing situation as a "painful aspect" that requires a firm response from authorities and the political class. He stressed that external oversight alone cannot prevent criminal organizations from manipulating electoral consensus. Instead, he advocated for self-regulation among candidates as the primary mechanism to identify and exclude individuals who have caused significant harm to the Campania region and continue to do so.

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What we are seeing in these weeks is a painful aspect that we must respond to.

"These are elements that we must marginalize, because only then can we build a better Campania," Manfredi asserted. His comments highlight a deep concern about the pervasive influence of the mafia in southern Italy and underscore the challenges faced in ensuring clean and democratic governance at the local level. The mayor's call for self-regulation suggests a recognition that the fight against corruption requires proactive measures from within the political system itself.

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No one will be able to control the organization of consensus from the outside: only the self-regulation of candidates allows us to keep out elements that have done so much harm to our region and continue to do so.