ROME – Roberto Gualtieri, Rome’s mayor since 2021, was spotted and recorded playing cards on his cell phone during a City Council meeting on Friday, according to the video released by Affaritaliani.it

 The video was filmed during a meeting discussing various public services in Rome, and its release sparked irony and controversy in the media. 

 Brothers of Italy Counsilor Rachele Mussolini poked at Gualiteri on Facebook, writing “Everything else is boring dear mayor.” 

One twitter user wrote, “Mayor, did Settebello take him? No, because while Rome is falling apart, the mayor plays broomstick, because he is bored in the Council".

And another wrote, “Finally a mayor gets his act together.” 

The primary goals of the meeting in the Giulio Cesare hall were to discuss the institution of the food council and the management of the Ama transportation company.