Abstract

In 1997, Maurizio Fistarol was elected mayor of Belluno with an ample cross-party majority. Fistarol was known for his political activity not only within the municipality but also at the regional and national level, and for his commitment to federalism. The author enquires whether an electoral mechanism which confers a surplus of legitimation on the candidate elected with broad consensus permits the taking of decisions which profoundly affect modernization of the public administration, and the instruments that can be utilized for this purpose. Then analysed is the way in which the mayor has used his political "credit", his choices when appointing councillors, and his policy towards officials and managers, in an attempt promote a modernization process based on parameters like the efficacy and efficiency of the municipal administration.