Urban planning investigation: Former Lodi mayor Simone Uggetti: "Too many magistrates are seeking visibility."

Lodi, July 24, 2025 – Simone Uggetti, who turned 52 today, looks like someone who's been through it, had a rough time, got out clean, and can now explain, from his own perspective, what's wrong with the relationship between politics and justice .

As mayor of Lodi, he was arrested for "disturbing the freedom of auctions" in the awarding of a municipal swimming pool . He experienced the harshness of prison for about ten days and the media storm until 2023, when after two appeals, he was acquitted . Today, he views the Milan affair with disillusionment. "Mayors pay for their mistakes; there's only one category for which this doesn't apply," he blurted out on social media.

So was Berlusconi right?

Berlusconi was no saint; he had a huge conflict of interest that overshadowed the good things he said about justice. But there's something wrong with the story of a pure man who suddenly, upon entering politics, becomes a devil. That there were excesses by the judiciary seems to me to be a historical fact..."

But here we're talking about mayors. From what you say, it almost seems like those who investigate are always wrong...

"No, it's just that mayors have three levels of control. Social, because they're subject to a vote. The Regional Administrative Court (TAR), which is appealed to in the event of erroneous resolutions, and the civil courts. And then there's the criminal courts. Three controls, plus one..."

And the magistrates, no?

“You said it… But I notice that there are no categories where the positive outcome is 98 percent… I have the unpleasant feeling that careers are not built on objective factors, like how many convictions you get in response to investigations, but on visibility…”.

Instead in politics...

"Not all administrators are honest, and those who aren't should be harshly prosecuted. But the issue is, as Falcone said, follow the money. This also applies to Milan: without money, what kind of corruption is it?"

The law speaks of "other benefits." There's influence, power. The prime minister would call it "buddy-ness."

"It's a political problem, not a criminal one. If administrators make mistakes, there's more than just criminal prosecution, but that's the only thing that helps one's career... There are three checks, plus one more..."

The Democratic Party hasn't always had this attitude... By the way, are you still a member?

“Yes. I'll go to the Festa dell'Unità. As a militant. I'm a pain in the ass, I've never kept quiet, and I won't start now. Politics is about speaking your mind. And, as a friend says, politics is a virus. It doesn't go away.”

There was some embarrassment in the Democratic Party... even in Milan.

"There's a diversity of views in all parties. Even in the League, albeit with some opportunism. The only major party where there's no nuance on the issue is the Five Star Movement. They're victims of their own coinage..."

But you have to ally yourself with them…

"You need the strength of your own convictions. Discuss, debate, not cajole... There's some confusion, the issue of legality is being identified solely with the prosecution's positions. I said the same about Toti: demonstrating against him was wrong. And pointless. Besides, thirty years of anti-Berlusconi sentiment weighs heavily. Some have liberated themselves, others haven't..."

Are we living in a perpetual 1992?

"Weak politics. A government fell because of an investigation by the Santa Maria Capua Vetere prosecutor's office into Mastella's wife... And then there was the case of Vasco Errani, a decent man, and that of Chiara Appendino. For the Five Star Movement, the conviction wasn't a moral issue... arguments worthy of the Iranian police..."

Would you vote for justice reform?

"This is an issue that needs to be addressed seriously. I had no doubts about the abuse of office, especially with so many Democratic Party administrators."