Cuffaro political legacy endures as Ida elected mayor of Raffadali

Rome— The political influence of the controversial Cuffaro family appears set to continue in Raffadali after 27 year old Ida Cuffaro secured a commanding victory in the mayoral election in the Agrigento province town.

With counting still under way on Sunday evening, Ida Cuffaro had already begun celebrations as her share of the vote approached 80 per cent, according to preliminary results.

The result marks a continuation of the Cuffaro family’s long standing role in local politics. Ida succeeds her uncle, Silvio Cuffaro, who served multiple terms as mayor of Raffadali. The town, once regarded as a stronghold of the Italian left in the province of Agrigento, has in recent years become closely associated with the family’s political presence.

Ida Cuffaro is the niece of former Sicilian governor Salvatore ‘Totò’ Cuffaro and daughter of Giuseppe Cuffaro. A law graduate, mother of three and employee at the employment centre, she has worked in recent years on institutional communications for the outgoing municipal administration. During her campaign she presented herself as a candidate capable of combining administrative continuity with generational renewal.

“I'm extremely happy,” Cuffaro said as results emerged. “We sensed support during the campaign, but the figures are surprising. We are waiting for the final outcome of the count, but I am truly satisfied.”

The campaign, however, unfolded amid growing political tension and personal attacks centred on the candidate’s surname. Opponents described the succession as evidence of a political “dynasty”, a term employed by regional deputy Ismaele La Vardera of the Controcorrente movement.

Tensions escalated earlier this month after one of Cuffaro’s campaign posters was found tied to a red bench, a symbol associated with efforts to combat violence against women. Cuffaro condemned the incident on social media and announced plans to file a complaint, describing the act as disturbing and reflective of the hostility she said she and her family had faced during the campaign.

“Avreste potuto trovare in me una ragazza fragile, ingenua, sprovveduta, sola, invece no, vi è capitata una tosta,” she wrote, saying she would seek legal action and hoped surveillance footage would identify those responsible.

Despite sharp political differences, La Vardera publicly condemned the episode and expressed solidarity with the candidate.“I am politically distant from the Cuffaro dynasty,” he said, “but what happened is unacceptable. Intimidation has no political colour.”

The election also takes place against the backdrop of legal proceedings involving Totò Cuffaro, who was absent from the campaign.

For many observers, Ida Cuffaro’s emphatic victory confirms that the Cuffaro name remains a powerful electoral force in Raffadali, signalling both continuity and the emergence of a younger generation within one of Sicily’s most recognisable political families.

PS