Impact

Italy’s Florence Has Elected Its First Woman Mayor

Sara Funaro, a leftist politician, won 60% of the votes to become mayor of the Italian city on Monday June 24.

Kassy Cho

Jun 26, 2024 — 3 min read

Italy’s Florence has elected its first woman mayor.

Sara Funaro, a leftist politician, won 60% of the votes to become mayor of the Italian city on Monday June 24.

She defeated the former director of Florence’s Uffizi Gallery who was backed by the far-right government.

47-year-old Funaro was born in Florence and worked as a psychologist and psychotherapist.

She has been a city counsellor since 2014 and was in charge of welfare, healthcare, immigration and teaching.

She dedicated her win to her grandfather, who was the mayor of Florence during a flood in 1966 and led the city through the recovery efforts.

Funaro’s win is significant as her opponent had been seen as a significant threat to flipping Florence, which has historically been left-leaning, to the right.

More On Italy

new zealand maori hikoi protest march treaty waitangi

Tens Of Thousands Of New Zealanders Marched For Nine Days To Protest A Bill To Roll Back Indigenous Māori Rights

The new Treaty Principles Bill would reinterpret the Treaty of Waitangi, a foundational document in New Zealand.

iran treatment clinic women defy hijab law

Iran Is Planning To Set Up "Treatment Clinics" For Women Who Do Not Follow The Country’s Mandatory Hijab Laws

The "morality" police said the "hijab removal treatment clinic” would provide women with "scientific and psychological treatment for hijab removal”.

hong kong 47 pro democracy activists sentenced national security law

Hong Kong Has Jailed 45 Pro-Democracy Activists For Trying To Take Part In The 2020 Election

They are part of 47 activists and lawmakers who were trying to select pro-democracy candidates to take part in the legislative election in July 2020.

israel aid north gaza 40 days set on fire

Israel Finally Allowed Aid Into North Gaza After 40 Days But Set Fire To The School It Was Sent To Hours Later

After it let aid into North Gaza, Isarel burned the Mahdia Al Shawwa school and forced Palestinians to evacuate at gunpoint.

More On Italy

Sign up for Almost

Read more

Tens Of Thousands Of New Zealanders Marched For Nine Days To Protest A Bill To Roll Back Indigenous Māori Rights

Iran Is Planning To Set Up "Treatment Clinics" For Women Who Do Not Follow The Country’s Mandatory Hijab Laws

Hong Kong Has Jailed 45 Pro-Democracy Activists For Trying To Take Part In The 2020 Election

Israel Finally Allowed Aid Into North Gaza After 40 Days But Set Fire To The School It Was Sent To Hours Later