The Search for Legitimate Leadership in Local Governments: The Case of the Metropolitan City of Milan

The Metropolitan City of Milan (MCM Città Metropolitana di Milano) is a significant regional governance model that encompasses 133 municipalities. Established in 2015, this structure has sparked debate due to the reform law that automatically appoints the Mayor of Milan as the Metropolitan Mayor. This study examines the current governance model and leadership structure in Milan, questioning the democratic legitimacy and representativeness of this appointment. A qualitative research method was employed, including a review of the relevant literature and face-to-face interviews with stakeholders involved in metropolitan governance. According to the findings, appointing the Mayor of Milan directly as the metropolitan leader creates representational injustice and leads to the neglect of the interests of smaller municipalities. This results in an unbalanced governance structure focused primarily on central Milan. Instead of this leadership model, which lacks legitimacy, a structure that truly represents the entire metropolitan area and is elected either by council members or directly by the public is required.