Pierfrancesco Majorino announces his candidacy for mayor of Milan

Pierfrancesco Majorino, unsurprisingly, is standing as a candidate in the (possible) centre-left primaries in Milan, ahead of next spring’s local elections. “It is a great honour and a deeply moving moment for me to announce that I am standing as a candidate for Mayor of Milan.” The leader of the PD group in the Regional Council, and a member of the party’s national executive, has been speaking of his willingness to stand for over a year. Now, any reservations have been set aside, at a theatre in Via Oglio in Milan, one of the suburbs earmarked for regeneration.

Majorino is, in effect, Mario Calabresi’s main ‘rival’. The two represent two different approaches to politics in Milan: on the one hand, political experience and knowledge of public administration; on the other, the reputation of a professional who can claim to have managerial experience to bring to politics. It is therefore these two models – rather than the two candidates themselves – that will go head-to-head in the primaries.

“I am doing this in the firm belief that a new chapter for the centre-left must begin in this city, with great pride in the many positive achievements of the past fifteen years, but also with the determination of someone who believes that certain important issues must be tackled with great resolve and radicalism,” said Majorino.

At certain points during the nomination evening, the out-of-place guest was the outgoing administration – albeit still centre-left. And, not too subtly, Mayor Giuseppe Sala. The local (Democratic) politicians who introduced Majorino’s candidacy spoke of the mistake of selling San Siro, the failure to regenerate social housing, and the lack of green spaces in the squares. Their successes are acknowledged, of course. But many mistakes were listed: luxury student accommodation, urbanisation charges that were too favourable to property developers, and a lack of boldness in dealings with the government. There was talk of ambiguity. In effect, a clear distancing from the current centre-left council.

There were many people in the audience: Deputy Mayor Anna Scavuzzo (who is also a candidate in the primaries), councillors Lamberto Bertolé and Gaia Romani, Bruno Tabacci and Alessandra Kustermann. She was the first to speak, expressing her appreciation for the current administration and calling for the Sala council’s positive policies to be continued. She was followed by Francesca Balzani, a former councillor in the Pisapia council, who described Sala as a ‘steadfast and generous’ mayor, even in times of difficulty.