Virginia Raggi

Virginia Raggi
Name	Virginia Raggi
Birth date	18 July 1978
Birth place	Rome, Italy
Occupation	Politician, lawyer
Office	Mayor of Rome
Term start	21 June 2016
Term end	21 October 2021
Party	Five Star Movement
Alma mater	University of Rome La Sapienza

Virginia Raggi (born 18 July 1978) is an Italian lawyer and politician who served as Mayor of Rome from 2016 to 2021. A prominent member of the Five Star Movement, she became the first woman to hold Rome's mayoralty and one of the best-known figures in contemporary Italian politics. Her tenure intersected with national figures and institutions such as Matteo Renzi, Giuseppe Conte, Luigi Di Maio, Sergio Mattarella, and municipal relationships with the European Union and United Nations urban programs.

Early life and education

Raggi was born in Rome and raised in the Aurelio district, attending local schools before studying law at the Sapienza University of Rome. While at Sapienza she engaged with academic figures and municipal internships connected to the Italian Republic's administrative corps and local magistrates. Her early influences included exposure to Roman civic institutions like the Comune di Roma and legal practitioners linked to the Ordine degli Avvocati di Roma.

Legal and political career

After obtaining a law degree from Sapienza University of Rome, Raggi qualified as an attorney and practiced in civil and administrative law, appearing before bodies such as the Tribunale di Roma and interacting with legal associations tied to the European Court of Human Rights framework. Her political ascent began in the Five Star Movement, a movement founded by Beppe Grillo and Gianroberto Casaleggio, aligning with figures including Luigi Di Maio and Alessandro Di Battista. She served as a municipal councillor and ran in local selections coordinated with national Five Star strategies during periods of contest with leaders like Matteo Salvini and Silvio Berlusconi.

Mayor of Rome (2016–2021)

In the 2016 municipal election Raggi was the Five Star candidate for mayor, competing against candidates from coalitions associated with Partito Democratico and centre-right formations linked to Forza Italia and Lega Nord. After a runoff she won the mayoralty, marking a shift in Roman politics previously dominated by figures such as Walter Veltroni, Giorgia Meloni and Ignazio Marino. As mayor, she engaged with metropolitan governance structures like the Città metropolitana di Roma Capitale and international city networks including United Cities and Local Governments and the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group.

Policies and administration

Raggi's administration prioritized initiatives framed by Five Star platforms, engaging municipal agencies including Agenzia del Demanio, ACEA, and ATAC. Policy moves involved urban planning interactions with the Pope and the Vatican City on heritage and tourism, transport projects involving the Roma Metro and tram networks, and waste management reforms with stakeholders such as AMA and European partners in municipal services. Her administration negotiated with national cabinets led by Paolo Gentiloni and Giuseppe Conte on infrastructure funding, cultural heritage coordination with the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism and fiscal measures tied to the European Commission's urban development guidelines.

Controversies and investigations

Raggi's tenure saw multiple legal and political controversies involving municipal appointments and procurement that drew scrutiny from bodies such as the Procura della Repubblica of Rome and Ombudsman offices linked to the European Court of Auditors through funding compliance reviews. High-profile resignations and disputes involved figures from Rome's municipal councils and municipal companies, and she contended with criticism from national politicians including Matteo Renzi and commentators associated with Il Fatto Quotidiano and Corriere della Sera. Investigations led to court proceedings and administrative inquiries that intersected with rules under the Italian Constitution and statutes enforced by judicial institutions like the Corte di Cassazione in appellate contexts.

Electoral history

Raggi's electoral history includes selection in Five Star Movement primaries, the 2016 Rome mayoral ballot where she defeated a centre-left candidate in a runoff, and subsequent municipal and intra-party votes defining her leadership within Five Star ranks alongside national electoral cycles that included the 2018 general election won by the Five Star Movement in coalition negotiations with Lega. Her mayoral campaign was covered by European and international media outlets while also influencing candidate selections and alliances involving parties such as Partito Democratico, Forza Italia, and regional lists in Lazio.

Category:1978 births Category:People from Rome Category:Mayors of Rome Category:Five Star Movement politicians Category:Italian women lawyers