Rome’s mayor, Virginia Raggi, who swept into office as part of the anti-establishment Five Star Movement in 2016 is facing protests from Romans who say the city is falling apart on her watch.
Of course, Italy’s national politics, with its current sharp left-right split is part of the equation, but it’s also true that much of the current collapse of the city’s infrastructure predates the city’s first woman mayor: In fact, her winning campaign was based in large part on a promise to fix it.
Thousands of protesters turned out last week, waving strips of the orange plastic netting the city uses to block off fallen trees, dangerous pavement and potholes, chanting the slogan “Rome says ‘Enough!'”
Among the issues cited have been burning buses, unmaintained parks, uncollected trash, abandoned buildings and more. Just this week, more than 20 people were injured when an escalator in a main metro station collapsed.
Raggi’s troubles go further: she is on trial on charges of lying about a Council appointment, with a verdict due next month. If convicted, she will have to leave office, potentially leaving it open for a mayor from the far-right Liga party, which is her party’s ally nationally and enemy locally.
