America News Agency

The last time Igor De Santis ran for mayor of Ingria, a small village surrounded by forests and mountains near Turin, he won an easy victory. But after his mother joined the rival camp, he faces an uphill battle in the mayoral race for the fourth time.

Ingria is one of the smallest villages in Italy, with 46 inhabitants. The electorate includes 26 people registered to vote from abroad.

De Santis, 42, has run the administration since 2009 and was expected to face competition in the mayoral race from opposition councillor Renato Poletto, 70. The candidacy of Stefano Venuti, a Milan resident with a second home in Ingria, further complicated the situation. “We didn't expect this,” De Santis said.

Then the micro-race was completely upended when Poletto announced that he had the backing of De Santis' mother, Milena Crosasso, and was nominating her to run for councillor as part of a list of nine women and one man for the new council election on June 8-9. In total, 30 people - about two-thirds of the village's residents - are now vying for positions.

“I asked my mom to join me, but when she saw that Poletto's list was mostly women, she decided to go with them,” De Santis said. “They are all volunteers who have worked hard for the village.”

Crosasso said the competition would not affect family harmony. “Both my son and I want what is best for the community, and this is an opportunity to give voice to women's perspectives without weakening family ties.”

In Italy's Soana Valley, Ingria faces problems similar to those of other mountain villages, including depopulation, lack of services, and snow in winter. It has also had to cope with a surge in tourism since 2022, when it was ranked among Italy's “most beautiful” villages.

"There has been an incredible increase, and we must manage it. There are few residents but a lot of second homes. Our main goal is to preserve the beauty of Ingria."