Florence. Eike Schmidt was head of the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. Now he wants to be mayor. He promises: more security and less cheap tourism.
A woman runs Eike Schmidt for. “Can we take a photo together?” she asks. “Of course, we’ll include your daughter too,” Schmidt responds. Her Italian is perfect, only her German accent reveals that it is not her native language. Freiburg native would like to become mayor of the Renaissance city of Florence – and with the support of right-wing parties.
So far, Schmidt has had little to do with politics. The 56-year-old art historian directed the Uffizi Gallery from 2015 to 2023 Florence – one of the most important museums from Italy. We found him on a walk with citizens through a residential area of the city. Schmidt is repeatedly stopped by Florentines, who tell him what they consider the city’s biggest problems. Many complain about this deteriorated security situation – and want to take a photo with “il tedesco”, the German.
“Less traffic, more safety, with Mayor Eike” – this is how Eike Schmidt announces it on a bus in Florence.
© Funke Central Editorial Team | Bettina Funk
Eike Schmidt: Candidate for mayor of Florence with the support of Giorgia Meloni
As independent candidate Schmidt receives support from Italy’s right-wing parties – including the post-fascist Fratelli d’Italia Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and the right-wing populist Lega by Matteo Salvini, who is a fan of donald trump It is. At European level, Salvini is working with the AfD together.
Schmidt tries to distance himself from right-wing politics and sees himself as a “man in the middle”. Anti-fascist, but the reasons for support remain vague. The Fratelli d’Italia are not that right-wing, he says. “Meloni has opened his party more and more towards the center over the last twelve years,” he says. “There are also many former Christian Democrat members, the Italians CDU so to speak.”
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He finished with the Lega common goal awake. “They had no problem with my program suggestions,” says Schmidt. “At a local political level, there are no points that are in any way radical; we agreed to this in advance.” Schmidt emphasizes that there are also two “former social democrats” on his list of citizens.
Schmidt’s most important election promise: more security for Florence
During his time as director of the Uffizi Gallery, he distinguished himself as the most successful Museum manager, ensured security and fought against illegal ticket sellers. It gained international recognition because it improved the museum’s position – including in terms of content – and did not shy away from innovations, thus achieving a record number of visitors and record revenues.
The Uffizi Gallery in Florence is considered one of the most famous art museums in the world. View of Palazzo Vecchio, mayor’s seat, towards the Arno.
© image alliance / Daniel Kalker | Daniel Kalker
The structured German manager who guarantees law and order: this is how Schmidt presents himself in the election campaign. His main electoral promise: More security in Florence. In particular, the city park on the banks of the River Arno, the Parco delle Cascine, “has become a center for international drug trafficking. We must now restore security and public order.”
Holidays in Italy: Schmidt criticizes cheap tourism
The mayoral candidate also wants to tackle the large number of tourists in Florence. Schmidt criticizes that Cheap tourism, which overloads the city and generates little money. “Tourists who arrive by bus and bring their own sandwiches or buy them from windows sit on the steps of houses and churches. This must be stopped,” says Schmidt.
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Anyone who passes through Florence knows the countless little shops or windows that offer the typical schiacciata – sliced focaccia generously topped with sausage, cheese or vegetables. Schmidt is bothered by the fact that some of these rolls cost 14 euros, while tourists could enjoy pasta in a restaurant for the same price. “But of course tourists don’t know that,” he says. “Those who sell their rolls at the window counter have a much higher profit margin than those who run a restaurant,” explains Schmidt. In fact, it bothers him so much that he already existing licenses He wants to reduce window sales “because some streets have reduced themselves to this lower level of quality”.
The hype surrounding the All’Antico Vinaio chain is enormous. There are often long queues in front of stores where you can buy schiacciata.
© imago/Panthermedia | Antonio Gravante
But what are Schmidt’s concrete measures against the large number of tourists? Entrance fees like in Venice or a total ban on renting rooms through Airbnb? There is currently no legal basis for the latter, he explains. Instead, he wants To drive for coaches increase. He also wants vacationers through good and creative restaurants or new museums in the center other districts of Florence to drive. “Of course you can’t move the Uffizi Gallery. But all these museums have huge deposits of works of art. This is also enough for more museums in other parts of the city.” But it remains to be seen whether these ideas will be enough to alleviate pressure in the city center, which is overcrowded on many days.
A German as mayor? “He will finally bring order here”
The election campaign is in the hot phase. On June 8th and 9th, Florentines will elect their new mayor. Although Florence has existed for decades left fortress Schmidt is a promising candidate. A poll before the official announcement of his candidacy showed him just behind Sara Funaro, who is positioned on the center left. If Schmidt wins the elections, it will be a political earthquake in Italy.
Capital Inside by Jörg Quoos, editor-in-chief of FUNKE’s central editorial team
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Schmidt, married to a Florentine art historian, highlights that people on the street asked him if he would like to compete and that it was only then that he had the idea. Why do so many Florentines have one? Germans – with Italian citizenship – support? “He is decisive and structured,” says an older man on a civic tour of Florence. “As mayor, he will finally bring order here and make tourists respect the city.”