In this Venetian administrative campaign, it is clear that those holding institutional positions, such as the councilor and mayoral candidate supported by the current majority, Simone Venturini, are present at many events in the city’s daily life: inaugurations, site visits, public events, official press releases. It is natural and right that they do their job, but it is equally clear that this constant presence should not be transformed into a personal electoral advantage.
During an election campaign, it is normal to want to get closer to citizens, including through direct and visible communication. Of course, soft populism is a transversal practice that uses symbolic proximity and public presence to consolidate support rather than a political project, but when this strategy is used by those in power, it is never neutral, because institutional visibility requires a higher level of responsibility and a distinction between public role and electoral support.
In a healthy democratic election campaign, those who govern and at the same time are candidates have a dual responsibility: to manage the city and to ensure that their position is not used for political advertising. This is not a limitation for those who propose new ideas. Rather, it is a principle of good governance, which protects the city and the quality of political debate.
Every administrator must carefully consider how and when to make appearances, always distinguishing between public service and electoral interest. Those who hold an institutional role naturally enjoy greater visibility and access to the public stage, and this can translate into a vested interest compared to competitors who do not hold the same role, turning the administration’s past results and actions into a personal advantage. Politics is not built on past successes, but on the ideas and projects proposed for the city’s future.
Prudence becomes even more necessary when the administration’s top officials have been the object of significant criticism due to legal problems that have undermined the transparency and consistency of their actions: even before a judicial verdict, this kind of doubt is ethically destabilizing. Under these circumstances, those in government should be cautious, if not modest, in transforming their role into a tool for campaign visibility. Every public gesture takes on greater weight and can be perceived as being instrumental. Even in this context, Venturini has declared that he will retain much of the city’s ten-year governing team, thus having access to a broadly consolidated and widespread network of power.
Those participating in this competition, like any challenger, have the opportunity to put their proposals front and center, demonstrating concreteness, competence, and administrative ability. Campaigning is not only about chasing visibility, but about proposing real solutions and building credibility through political merit, not through the revenues of public office.
The councilor’s responsibility is not an advantage to be criticized: it is a call to exercise prudence, balance, and transparency. Every gesture, every appearance, every statement must be evaluated with the understanding that public office cannot become a tool of propaganda. Citizens’ trust in politics is strengthened when those in government respect these boundaries.
Ultimately, the city benefits when everyone respects the limits of their institutional role, when the debate focuses on the future rather than the past, and when each candidate can debate the merits of their proposals. True political strength is not measured by the visibility gained through one’s role, but by the ability to persuade citizens with concrete ideas, feasible projects, and a clear vision for our city’s future. Those who build support in this way demonstrate credibility, authority, and responsibility, and bring the debate to a truly democratic and constructive level.
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