The 42nd annual meeting of the National Association of Italian Municipalities (ANCI) opened yesterday at BolognaFiere, with President Sergio Mattarella attending the ceremony. The event, running until November 14, carries the theme “Together for the Common Good,” highlighting the importance of collaboration between local governments and national institutions.
“Local democracy is essential for our country’s moral and civic growth,” said Marco Fioravanti, ANCI’s National Council President and mayor of Ascoli Piceno. “ANCI represents the living network of Italian municipalities—a force for social cohesion and balanced development.”
In a written message, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni praised the vital role of mayors: “The Republic lives and grows through its municipalities, the institutions closest to citizens. Mayors are on the front lines of public service—one of the toughest yet noblest roles there is.” She cited progress on regional reconstruction efforts, the National Strategy for Inner Areas, and the 2026 budget law, which imposes no new cuts to local administrations.
Bologna’s mayor, Matteo Lepore, called for unity in addressing major challenges such as climate change, sustainable mobility, and the housing crisis. ANCI President Gaetano Manfredi emphasized that “reforms must aim for fairness and social justice—without equity, there is no future.”
President Mattarella closed the ceremony by reaffirming that municipalities form “the first line of our democracy.” Strengthening them, he said, “means investing in the nation’s future,” while condemning threats against local administrators as “crimes against the civil community, against Italy itself.”