The candidature of the Italian municipality of Riace for the Nobel Peace Prize has raked in 90,000 signatures, including those of thousands of teachers, associations and dozens of Parliamentarians. The city's mayor, Domenico (Mimmo) Lucano, made headlines around the world for his efforts to integrate migrants into the community. ''This brings me happiness in a period of overriding bitterness,'' former mayor Mimmo Lucano commented.
Over 90,000 signatures have been collected to nominate the Riace municipality for the Nobel Peace Prize. The announcement was made during a Rome press conference in which the former mayor of the Calabria town, Mimmo Lucano, took part.
Lucano made headlines around the world for his unusual programme that welcomed migrants to the sparsely-populated town in Calabria. He made available abandoned homes and on-the-job training for migrants, in the hope that the new arrivals would rejuvenate the economy. Lucano was detained last October over his alleged involvement in corruption and organized marriages for the purpose of immigration.
Some of those involved in the campaign for the collection of signatures includes the Left magazine and Rete dei Comuni Solidali, as well as 2,750 university professors, dozens of Parliamentarians and 1,250 associations in Italy.
Former mayor pleased with the news
On January 31, the motivations for the candidature were sent to the Nobel Peace Prize Committee in Oslo along with the signatures. ''This brings me happiness in a period of overriding bitterness,'' former mayor Mimmo Lucano commented. Lucano added that ''I would like to share this with all the refugees of Riace and those of the entire world, including those of San Ferdinando, in the Gioia Tauro plains, where on February 1 we will be holding a demonstration to shed light on the very serious situation there.''
In a show of solidarity with Lucano and migrants and refugees in general, there will be a march held in Milan on March 2 and a mural will be painted by a Peruvian artist in Riace for the April 25 Liberation Day celebrations.
'Our leaders are like Pinochet'
On the issue of the migrants and refugees stuck on the Sea-Watch 3 ship for many days, the former mayor of Riace said during a press conference that "those governing us are like Pinochet" and that ''I would say we have hit rock bottom''.
"I hope to go back to working as mayor," he said. ''At the moment I have been charged with aiding and abetting clandestine immigration due to an alleged marriage. I am waiting for a decision to be issued by the Court of Cassation on the pre-cautionary measures but I hope to go back to being the mayor at least for three months. Then the elections will be held in Riace.''