Taranto, Mayor Bitetti, elected two months ago, resigns due to "political unfitness" following protests over the former Ilva steelworks.

Elected only in the second round of local elections on 8 and 9 June at the head of a centre-left coalition, Piero Bitetti announced his resignation as mayor of Taranto on Monday evening.

Bitetti's retreat came at the end of a hectic day, to say the least, following a tense meeting at the town hall with representatives of civic and environmental committees regarding the plan for the former Ilva steelworks , the steelworks that has been at the center of local and national political debate for years due to its economic, social, and environmental impact.

On Wednesday, Bitetti was supposed to lead the City Council meeting, which was scheduled to vote on the reconversion program for the city's steelworks, which is at the center of numerous investigations and a complicated sale procedure by the State, which took possession of the plant through the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy after the failed management of the Franco-Indian group ArcelorMittal , preceded in turn by public commissioners and by the Riva family, who purchased Ilva when it was part of the public group Italsider.

According to various reports, the heated discussion inside the Town Hall, which dragged on for a long time, led Bitetti to leave the building early. However, protesters were waiting for him outside, some of whom reportedly even threatened the mayor .

Bitetti, who was reportedly prevented from leaving, then returned to the City Hall and submitted his resignation, citing " political unfitness ." In any case, the law provides mayors with 20 days to confirm or withdraw their resignation.