The city council of Riace, a small town in southern Italy, has voted against a request to disqualify its mayor, Domenico “Mimmo” Lucano. The request came from the prefect’s office in Reggio Calabria, which wanted Lucano removed from office over a past legal case. But on April 8, the council rejected the request through a majority vote.
Lucano, a well-known politician and activist, has been in the spotlight for his support of migrant rights. His legal troubles began in 2017, when he was accused of abusing public office and committing fraud. Although he was first sentenced to 13 years in prison, most of the charges were later dropped by higher courts.
In 2023, the Court of Cassation, Italy’s top court, confirmed Lucano’s innocence on most charges. However, he did receive a suspended 18-month sentence for making a false declaration. This minor conviction triggered the prefect’s attempt to disqualify him using the Severino Law, a rule that allows disqualification of public officials found guilty of certain crimes.
Lucano’s lawyer, Andrea Daqua, argued that the sentence did not mention any abuse of power, which is required by the Severino Law to remove someone from office. Because of this, the council agreed Lucano could stay on as mayor. He was re-elected in 2024 before the final court decision was made, making his case even more complex.
Lucano also serves as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the Green and Left Alliance, elected in 2024. He did not attend the council meeting, but later said he trusted the council to do the right thing. He added that if the prefect’s office continues with legal action, he will fight to protect his rights.
Although the vote went in Lucano’s favor, the situation may not be over. The regional prefect’s office can still challenge the decision in court. For now, though, Lucano will continue as mayor of Riace, a town known for welcoming migrants under his leadership.
Lucano said the use of the Severino Law in his case is “absurd,” and that many legal experts agree with him. He even suggested he might appeal to the President of Italy, Sergio Mattarella, if necessary.