Gaetano Manfredi, the progressive engineer at the helm of the municipalities that the right also likes

Soft tones, vocation for dialogue, capacity for mediation and confrontation. Gaetano Manfredi, mayor of Naples since 2021, is a staunch supporter of the progressive alliance but also knows how to dialogue with the right, which does not spare him esteem and appreciation. While the other strong figure in Campania's politics, Vincenzo De Luca, attacked the government on the cohesion funds issue for months, he discussed with Minister Fitto the resources for Bagnoli, creating a profound political break with the governor, who had also supported his candidature as first citizen. Those who thought that the engineer was politically weak and inexperienced had to change their minds: Manfredi has been able to build networks and alliances, keeping his distance from the crossfire of controversy. He even managed, a masterpiece of diplomacy, to make the Neapolitans accept his never-hidden youthful love for Juventus.

Born in Ottaviano (Naples) 60 years ago, Manfredi spent his professional career at the Federico II University in Naples as a lecturer in Construction Technology in the Faculty of Engineering. In 2014 he was elected rector of the university and the following year also took over as head of Crui, the Conference of Italian Rectors. A researcher in the field of earthquake engineering, married and father of a daughter, he landed in politics as a Dem area technician in January 2020, with his appointment as minister of universities in the Conte 2 government, replacing the resigning Fioramonti. In more than a year at the helm of the ministry, he was appreciated for the reforms that simplified access to certain professions, and forged a strong political and personal relationship with the then Prime Minister. When that executive fell, Manfredi accepted the candidacy for mayor of Naples in 2021 and managed to build a coalition of no less than 13 lists, which in addition to the PD and M5s included the left, Greens, Renzians, civic groups and even Clemente Mastella's Noi Campani. He was elected in the first round by close to 63%, and among the first to rush to the city to celebrate him was Giuseppe Conte himself.

Sheriff-governor Vincenzo De Luca was also a sponsor and supporter of the new mayor at the time. After a few years, however, relations between the two deteriorated, especially when Giorgia Meloni became head of government. De Luca is in constant dispute with the centre-right, Manfredi insists on 'institutional collaboration' and distances himself from it. Last July, he welcomed the premier to Bagnoli to sign the agreement that should sanction the rebirth of the former industrial area after decades: Manfredi was special commissioner for the 1.2 billion euro mega-project, one of the priority challenges for his term as mayor. Two of his predecessors, Antonio Bassolino and Luigi de Magistris, are not sparing him any criticism, but Manfredi's approval rating is on the upswing: in the latest approval rating compiled by Il Sole 24 Ore, he is the second most popular mayor in Italy (62%). His name is being bandied about as the centre-left's united candidate for next year's regional elections, but he repeats that he would rather run for a second term as mayor: today's election to the leadership of Anci seems to completely close off the possibility of him running for Campania against the right and against De Luca.