Roberto Falcone, First M5S Mayor of Piedmont, Passes Away at 57

He was the first Five Star Movement (M5S) mayor of Piedmont. Roberto Falcone has died at the age of 57. He was elected in Venaria Reale, a municipality of the metropolitan city of Turin, in 2015, and caused quite a stir because it was an absolute novelty: a first citizen of the Five Star Movement, the party founded by Beppe Grillo and Gianroberto Casaleggio that had recently entered the political world. The following year, the M5S would also win in Rome and Turin.

Roberto Falcone, aged 57, has died and was the first M5S mayor of Piedmont

The former mayor Falcone died late Thursday evening: he had a fatal illness along the Direttissima della Mandria. He managed to call for help but unfortunately, it was in vain because he did not make it. The leader of the Five Star Movement, Giuseppe Conte, today wanted to remember him. "I learn with pain of the disappearance of Roberto Falcone, first mayor of the Five Star Movement in Piedmont, in the municipality of Venaria. His commitment and dedication have left an indelible mark in our community and beyond. A loving thought to his family and loved ones in this moment of great pain." The current mayor of Venaria, Fabio Giulivi, has decided to cancel the event scheduled for this evening related to the Giro d'Italia as a sign of respect and mourning. Roberto Falcone arrived in Venaria in 1996 with his wife Alessandra and children Francesca and Davide. It was here that he discovered the Five Star meetups and in 2015 he ran for office. Just a few days ago he had decided to throw his hat back in the ring by announcing his candidacy for the European elections. "Today I have lost - writes Davide De Santis, a city council member of the Five Star Movement - a friend as well as a political mentor. I share a memory of those beautiful ones that had united us politically and personally in an indissoluble way: the Participatory Budget. I will miss you, Bob. R.I.P." Also Valentina Sganga, a former councilor in Turin, remembers him: "Today it really hurts to think back to the joy of that evening and, above all, to think back to him. He, who before anyone else realized a piece of the dreams and hopes of an entire political community in our Region. He left us last night, due to a sudden illness, and we will miss him, we will miss him very much." "In these hours - comments Rossana Schillaci, a city council member of the Democratic Party - I cannot help but think of the various battles fought in the city council, of the initiatives carried forward together, because beyond the different political alignment, we have always cared about the welfare of our city. Goodbye Bob and a strong hug to your family."