Il processo per assegnare il titolo di Capitale Italiana della Cultura andrebbe ripensato. Ecco perché
An analysis of the selection process for Italy's "Capital of Culture" title reveals a consistent pattern: cities chosen for the prestigious designation are almost exclusively administered by political coalitions aligned with the national government in power at the time of selection. The sole exceptions were Bergamo and Brescia, which were jointly awarded the title via a special parliamentary decree in recognition of their suffering during the pandemic, bypassing the standard procedure. This political alignment has persisted across different legislatures and changes in government.
The issue is significant because the title is not merely symbolic; it comes with a direct public contribution of one million euros and substantial reputational benefits that leverage further public and private investment. This transforms the process from a cultural recognition into a substantive allocation of public resources, which, under Italian administrative law, must adhere to strict principles of transparency, impartiality, and reasoned justification. The article argues that the current opaque procedural structure risks undermining the integrity of the high-profile experts on the selection committees and calls for a systemic reform to ensure the process's legitimacy.