Mario Guarente

Mario Guarente (born 2 December 1983) is an Italian politician. He has been mayor of Potenza from 2019 to 2024, having been elected with the right-wing populist party Lega in 2019 after a closely contested runoff. He was among the least popular mayors in Italy and in 2024 was not nominated by the centre-right coalition for re-election.

Early life The second of two children, Guarente was born and raised in Potenza, in the Rione Lucania neighborhood, where he obtained a diploma from the liceo classico named after Quintus Horatius Flaccus. It was during his student years that he met his future wife.

In 2011, Guarente was founding member and president of the cultural association Ennesima Potenza. He was elected in the runoff on 9 June 2019, defeating his left-wing opponent and 2019 Basilicata regional election candidate Valerio Tramutoli of Possible by 200 votes, and took office on 20 June 2019. having been one of the least popular mayors. He was replaced as candidate by fellow Lega member and Regional Council of Basilicata vice-president Francesco Fanelli.