Pistoia, news from the center-left: Bertinelli returns to the political scene. "A new path begins."

Pistoia, July 21, 2025 – Samuele Bertinelli is back in the running. No official nomination, let's be clear. Nor is there a clear horizon, despite recent months of talk of his potential candidacy for the regional elections (which, however, with this move hinting at a commitment to the local elections, seems more distant). The fact remains that the former mayor of Pistoia (he led the center-left government from 2012 to 2017), long since back on track and a re-member of the Democratic Party after a long period away from the city's political scene, is launching "a new path." He did so yesterday morning via social media, immediately garnering widespread support and sparking lively debate.

"For about a year, I've been reading documents, studying numbers and trends, and traveling miles across the province to gather insights into the uncertain present we're living in and the possible future that awaits us. The many people I've met know this, those who aren't resigned to the current state of affairs. They are, potentially, the majority. Even in the municipalities where the right currently governs (or rather, should govern)," Bertinelli lashes out, "even in Pistoia. Now I feel it's necessary to broaden and deepen this reflection."

Hence the invitation to join a sort of programmatic platform: "I am addressing all those who envision a better future than what has befallen us in recent years: associations, clubs, local tourist boards, neighborhood committees, economic and social organizations, workers, the worlds of education, culture, sports, volunteering, and the professions, but also individual citizens and young people, eager to contribute their ideas to writing a new chapter for the city. The necessary change," he explains, "depends on the desire to promote it of all those who believe it is right to take responsibility for a better future."

Hence, the openness to contributions. Not under the aegis of the Democratic Party ("The Democratic Party must change profoundly," he warned in the comments, "in the municipal area it has taken the first steps in the right direction"), but on a personal level, launching the hashtag #Pistoiaditutti, which echoes one of his leitmotifs from previous elections. "Send me your thoughts and proposals, on specific and general issues, with a view to the transformations you deem desirable and urgent: which we must therefore attempt to build together. Write to me at [email protected] ," the former mayor concluded, "I will read them carefully and discuss them with you in the ways we decide. In the fall, those who write to me will be invited to a seminar for reflection and programmatic development. Starting from your suggestions. Let's embark on a new journey together." We'll see where it leads.