Germany German candidate misses out on Florence city hall

In the run-off election for the office of mayor of Florence, German candidate Eike Schmidt missed out on a place in city hall. The long-time director of the Uffizi Museum ran against the Social Democrat Sara Funaro in the run-off election on Sunday and Monday. With 39.4 percent of the vote, the 56-year-old Schmidt was defeated by his opponent Funaro, who received 60.6 percent of the vote, according to figures from the electoral authority on Monday. Funaro is the first time Florence has had a female mayor.

Schmidt ran as the candidate of a citizens' list with the support of the right-wing camp. The city of 360,000 inhabitants traditionally votes to the left, which is why Funaro was considered to have the better chances. The German campaigned on issues such as security and the fight against mass tourism. Incumbent Dario Nardella from the Social Democrats was not allowed to run again after two terms in office.

Schmidt's candidacy was supported by the right-wing coalition under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Her party Fratelli d'Italia (Brothers of Italy) has its origins in the post-fascist movement. Schmidt was director of the Uffizi Gallery, one of the most important art museums in the world, for eight years. He has been director of the Capodimonte Museum in Naples since January. He is currently on leave. Schmidt had declared before the election that he would return to his job in the event of defeat.