For years, in his highly decorated career as a highly respected pediatric cardiac surgeon (he was also the head of the Massa hospital), he has been dedicated to fixing children’s hearts, giving them a future that seemed lost. His own heart has always beaten for Forte dei Marmi. And it still beats. Strongly. So much so that Bruno Murzi is ready to run for mayor for the third consecutive time.
Mayor Murzi, have you definitively made up your mind? Will you run again for mayor of Forte dei Marmi in 2027?
«Yes, I have decided to run again for mayor of Forte dei Marmi in 2027. I feel I still have a lot to give to this town and I believe the path started in these ten years must be carried through to the end. There are important projects I want to see completed, but it would be reductive to say I am running again just for that. Forte dei Marmi is undergoing a great transformation: investments are growing, tourism is changing, real estate pressure is increasing, the climate and community needs are evolving. I want to see Forte dei Marmi continue to modernize without losing its identity. To change without conforming: this is the real challenge that, strengthened by my experience, pushes me to step into the field again.»
The call for your re-election came from the entire center-right. Will the third term be more politically defined?
«The support from FdI and Lega (Forza Italia still seems to have to decide regionally on what to do) pleases me and I hope for broad convergence, but the nature of our experience does not change. “Noi del Forte” was born and remains a civic project, built around an idea of the town before political affiliations. I am not interested in where a person comes from, but what they want to do for Forte dei Marmi and if they share our project. It was like this in 2017 and 2022, and it will be the same in 2027. Certainly, the attention and support that some center-right parties give us is an extremely positive fact.»
How are the relations with local representatives of Futuro Nazionale and Vannacci? Can they be considered part of the coalition supporting you?
«I have not spoken with any representative of Futuro Nazionale. However, I believe that at the municipal level one cannot talk about political coalitions comparable to the national level. In local elections, people vote for a mayor not for ideology but because they know him, appreciate his qualities and abilities, and above all consider him useful for the community. We are building our civic project of “Noi del Forte” in continuity with the administrative action carried out.»
Giuseppe Cruciani said that “security in Forte dei Marmi is a disaster.” Is there a security problem or not?
«Security is a serious issue that I have never underestimated. But calling Forte a “disaster” is contradicted by the latest police data: crimes have decreased overall by 26%, with significant drops in thefts and robberies. The municipality does its part: in summer the municipal police reach 48 units, we guarantee night service and have invested heavily in video surveillance. Moreover, this year the territorial presence of law enforcement has been widespread. Creating unjustified alarm risks damaging the image and economy of an international tourist destination. This does not mean minimizing problems, but addressing them based on reality. We will not lower our guard on security by an inch. The reconstruction of the carabinieri barracks is our priority.»
Is the modernization of Forte perhaps too reliant on investments from companies linked to super-rich individuals?
«The return of major investors shows that Forte dei Marmi has important growth prospects and this is allowing the recovery of hotel structures closed for decades. Furthermore, the urbanization fees from these interventions have been massively reinvested also in social projects, as we have done with public housing. I am in favor of development, but it must be balanced, long-term, and compatible with the town’s identity. I do not share the idea of those who see Forte as a place to arrive, invest, maximize returns, and then leave. Forte dei Marmi is not a financial product. It is a community. Serious investors are welcome, but the investment must fit into the Forte dei Marmi model, not the other way around.»
When you say “We are not and will not be like Ibiza,” what do you mean? Too many parties in the beach clubs? Is a crackdown needed?
«No battle against parties or fun. Each establishment can organize forty dinners during the season: overall we are talking about over four thousand dinners and about a thousand can be events. So there is space for entertainment. The point is balance: if several beach clubs organize musical events simultaneously, it creates discomfort for those who live or stay nearby. Fun must be there, but it must be compatible with the quality, elegance, and tranquility that distinguish Forte dei Marmi and make it a unique place in the tourist landscape. And in any case, beach operators must never forget that “bathing” is the operational core of their concession, not parties.»
How much do the rising costs of vacations and the further collapse of the middle class’s purchasing power worry you?
«They worry me because the risk exists. Luxury tourism is certainly an important component of our economy but our tourism fabric is not made up only of five-star hotels. There is an important economy linked to second homes, families who rent, commerce, and a clientele with good spending power that does not necessarily belong to the super-rich bracket. Losing this segment would also harm many Forte dei Marmi families. And there is the problem of those who want to live here. Real estate values and the cost of living make it increasingly difficult for young people and families to stay in Forte. For this reason, residency will be one of the big issues in the coming years; for example, we have already included tools regarding the subdivision of properties for residents in the operational plan. Forte must remain a prestigious location, but it must also remain a town.»
On what pillars will your program be based?
«We will start from completing what we have started: Palazzo Quartieri, Church square, day center for the elderly, back-dune area, new Misericordia, carabinieri barracks, new school, and sewers. Looking to the future, the pillars will be housing and residency, social issues, security, school, and the revitalization of sports facilities for quality off-season tourism. Then there is the climate challenge: more trees and shaded areas, air-conditioned schools, protection of aquifers, erosion control, and new parking areas to increase pedestrian areas and reduce car pressure. The next term must unite two objectives: complete the transformation started and prepare Forte dei Marmi for the next twenty years.»
Regarding the auctions linked to Bolkestein: how will you frame it and what are your deadlines?
«We will use every tool allowed by law to defend our beach model. In the criteria approved by the council, we valued the historical nature of managements, with a bonus from fifty years, and the direct management of the activity. The start of procedures is scheduled by June 2027 and we will reach that appointment doing everything the law allows us to protect the specificity of our beach system. Our beach clubs are not just any economic activity: behind them are families, professionalism, and experiences built through generations, which have contributed to the identity and tourist quality of Forte dei Marmi. We want to protect this history and govern the future of our beach model. I finally hope that the historic concessionaires do not give in to the pressures of large groups who want to exclude them with onerous agreements; sometimes resisting pays off much more than yielding to those who seem to be the powers that be.»
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