Salerno – The preliminary hearing of F. has been set for Tuesday 1 Aprilranco Alfieri, former president of the Province of Salerno and former mayor of Capaccio, arrested yesterday together with nine other people as part of an investigation into an alleged political-mafia electoral exchange during the 2019 administrative elections.
On the same day, Mariarosaria Picariello, former councilor for social policies of the municipality, who is also involved in the investigation, will also be heard.
The investigation and the accusations
The investigation, which lasted about two years, delved into the alleged relationships between Alfieri and Roberto Squecco, an entrepreneur with a definitive conviction for mafia association, believed to be close to the Marandino clan active in Capaccio-Paestum. Stefania Nobili, Squecco's ex-wife and at the time a city councilor, was also a key figure in the investigation.
According to investigators, Alfieri made an agreement with Squecco in view of the municipal elections of June 2019, promising him the management of the Kennedy beach in Capaccio-Paestum in exchange for collecting votes.
Background and political career
Already arrested on October 3, 2024 in an investigation into rigged tenders, Alfieri was subsequently placed under house arrest after resigning as mayor and president of the Province. During his career, he has held the role of mayor several times, leading the municipalities of Torchiara, Agropoli and, since 2019, that of Capaccio-Paestum, where he was re-elected in June 2024 with over 87% of the votes.
The defense and the media case
The former mayor, defended by lawyers Domenicantonio D'Alessandro and Agostino De Caro, says he is confident: "He is confident he can get out of this situation," declared the lawyer.
Alfieri's name became known nationwide in 2016, when Governor Vincenzo De Luca, during a public meeting for Matteo Renzi's referendum campaign, ironically told him: "Franco, you see what you have to do, offer a fish fry, do as you want." Since then, the media have nicknamed him "the fried food man."
Article published on March 28, 2025 - 20pm
In this situation there are many questions that remain unanswered. Alfieri's arrest is a sign of how politics can be influenced by external factors and not always positive ones. Let's hope that justice takes its course.