Italian Mayor’s ‘Valtellina Tobacconist’ Remark Sparks Political Firestorm, Apology Tour
A controversial remark by Como Mayor Alessandro Rapinese, leveled against a political opponent during a city council meeting, has ignited a political dispute stretching from Italy to China and back. The mayor has since issued an apology – but notably, not to the individual targeted, Democratic Party councilor Patricia Lissi, but to the residents of the Valtellina region.
The incident unfolded during Monday’s council session when Rapinese accused Lissi of posing as a “Valtellina tobacconist,” a phrase that has baffled observers as the profession appears to be nonexistent. In a video statement recorded while on institutional business in Nanjing, China, Rapinese admitted the comment was “an enormous stupidity” born of frustration. “I was arguing with Lissi, councilor of the Democratic Party, I hate the Democratic Party, I don’t like councilor Lissi at all, this sentence came out that I should have totally avoided also because the category of the ‘Valtellina tobacconist’ doesn’t exist… it’s just that when you’re frustrated… I reacted like this,” he stated.
The bizarre episode quickly gained traction, traveling from the Valtellina valleys to Milan and prompting reactions across the political spectrum. While Valtellina councilor Massimo Sertori accepted the mayor’s apology, stating on Facebook, “After the unfortunate outing on the ‘Valtellina tobacconist’, he apologizes to the Valtellina residents and declares: ‘I said something stupid’. What can I say, in this case I agree 100%!” – others were less forgiving.
Chiara Braga, a Como deputy from the Democratic Party, dismissed the apology as “a patch worse than a hole,” and questioned Rapinese’s fitness for office. “When you use hateful language, to use his exact words, and markedly sexist language to attack political opponents or anyone else, you should ask yourself if you are worthy of holding an institutional role. A crude but very convenient technique for covering one’s shortcomings,” she asserted.
Further fueling the controversy, colleagues of Lissi within the city council condemned the mayor’s behavior. Elena Negretti of the League accused “a majority made up of subjects,” while Barbara Minghetti, alongside Vittorio Nessi and Luca Vozella of Svolta Civica, described the scene as “an unworthy spectacle.” They also criticized city council president Fulvio Anzaldo for “allowing the mayor to mortify the institution whose dignity he is supposed to protect.”
Rapinese, in his video address, attempted to contextualize his outburst, claiming he was reacting to a councilor – identified as Paola Tocchetti, who recently moved to Forza Italia – who had accused his group of criminal activity. He alleged Tocchetti had been largely absent from council meetings, stating she had attended “one, maybe two” since they took office. Tocchetti disputed this account, setting the stage for a separate dispute.
The incident underscores the escalating tensions within Como’s political landscape and raises questions about the standards of conduct expected from elected officials. The unusual apology, directed at a region rather than the individual offended, has only served to amplify the controversy and ensure the story of the “Valtellina tobacconist” continues to reverberate.
