Schmidt appointed to Capodimonte, but will he run for mayor of Florence? It's already a controversy

Not even two days have passed since his appointment as director of the National Museum of Capodimonte in Naples, and for Eike Schmidt it is already controversy. What he had said in an interview on Windows onArt, and then reiterated in the days that followed, namely that he will not leave his home in Florence, has in fact given way to a one-sided interpretation, namely that the now former director of the Uffizi will not abandon the race for mayor of Florence.

For now, the German art historian, who has been an Italian citizen for less than a month, will not mince words: he let it be known through a press conference that he will decide on a possible run for Palazzo Vecchio in January. What is certain, is that Schmidt will not be able to do the two things at the same time: by law, if he intends to run as a candidate for mayor, among the ranks of the center-right, he will have to take a leave of absence. And statements on this aspect appear ambiguous: “I’m about to arrive in Naples and to ask for a leave of absence right away would be a bit funny,” Schmidt told reporters. What could happen? Several hypotheses: during the election campaign, the director would still have to go on leave. In case of defeat, he could return to his post, while instead in case he becomes the mayor of Florence, the Ministry of Culture would have to put the direction of the Capodimonte Museum and Real Bosco back out to bid.

The Pd, meanwhile, misses no opportunity to take a stand and make suggestions to Schmidt: “We are also convinced, like Schmidt, that it would be funny to ask for a leave of absence as soon as we arrive at the Capodimonte Museum,” said MP Marco Sarracino, a member of the national secretariat. “We therefore hope that Schmidt will stand by his statements without imagining, as he has done in the past with some statements, his own candidacy for mayor of the city of Florence. We are, therefore, certain that Schmidt will devote himself with exclusive commitment to the Capodimonte museum, which needs a director who will continue the work of consolidating the important growth that has taken place in recent years, and not a director in half service.”

“We remain surprised by Eike Schmidt’s failure to inform the Florentines whether he will run for mayor of Florence on the right, while he immediately accepted the appointment he received from Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano as director of the Capodimonte Museum and Real Bosco in Naples,” said Andrea Ceccarelli, secretary of the Florentine section of the Democratic Party, instead, who was much harsher on the former Uffizi director. “Florence cannot be used only as a stage, just as such an important cultural institution that he has been called to direct cannot be used as a parachute and safe harbor to land in case he loses the electoral match for the 2024 administrative elections. In wishing Schmidt well in his work, we urge him not to mock Florence and the voters.”

Schmidt appointed to Capodimonte, but will he run for mayor of Florence? It's already a controversy

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