Overview

• Mayor Massimo Coppola of Sorrento was arrested for accepting a €6,000 bribe at a restaurant, triggering a broader investigation into municipal corruption.
• The Guardia di Finanza conducted searches on 22 individuals, including Giuseppe Razzano, a parliamentary assistant to European Parliament Vice President Pina Picierno.
• Razzano's firm, Comunicando, won the 2021 'Brand Sorrento' contract despite allegedly failing to meet turnover requirements outlined in the tender.
• Investigators have uncovered irregularities in other municipal contracts, including some awarded through direct assignments for demographic services.
• The probe, dubbed 'Sistema Sorrento,' highlights systemic governance weaknesses and potential cross-level political connections between local and EU actors.