Overview
- The Democratic Party’s motion to censure Federica Picchi passed 44–23 in a secret vote, which does not automatically remove her from office.
- Picchi was targeted after reposting Robert F. Kennedy Jr. content linking autism to vaccines, which opponents denounced as no‑vax and unscientific.
- Multiple reports cite 19 centre‑right ‘franchi tiratori’ as decisive in the outcome, a claim FdI contests by insisting its councillors did not defect.
- Arianna Meloni and Giovanni Donzelli met FdI regional councillors before the vote in an unsuccessful bid to head off the censure.
- Opposition leaders urge Fontana to dismiss Picchi, while FdI figures signal they want her to remain and the coalition’s parties trade accusations over the cross‑voting.