Vasco Rossi: Rimini divided over honorary citizenship

The Rimini City Council has approved granting honorary citizenship to Vasco Rossi, officially acknowledging the deep bond that has tied the rocker from Zocca to the Romagna city for years. The decision, however, sparked a heated political clash, breaking with the tradition of unanimity that had always accompanied this kind of honor. The proposal was put forward by minority councillor and former deputy mayor Gloria Lisi, who described the award as "an act of recognition toward someone who has helped enhance our city's profile." In recent years, Rimini has indeed become one of the symbolic locations for Vasco Rossi's live activity, with the singer repeatedly choosing the Romeo Neri stadium to rehearse for his tours and host the opening dates of his concerts. "Vasco Live 2026" also kicked off in Rimini, on May 30.

The vote, however, was anything but unanimous. As reported by Il Resto del Carlino and Corriere di Romagna, centre-right councillors walked out of the chamber during the vote. The Lega party, through councillor Matteo Zoccarato, argued that honorary citizenship should be reserved for "figures who stand out for their values and dedication," also dismissing the initiative as a mere marketing operation. Fratelli d'Italy chose not to take part in the vote, objecting to the way the matter had been brought before the Council.
Even within the majority, there were dissenting voices. While voting in favor of the award, the Partito Democratico would have preferred to postpone the decision in an attempt to reach unanimous consent. This position was reiterated by councillor Matteo Petrucci, who called the way the vote came about "unpleasant." Councillor Francesco Bragagni, speaking on behalf of the City Council executive, expressed regret, recalling that in the past all honorary citizenships had always been approved unanimously. At the heart of the dispute is not only the figure of Vasco Rossi, unanimously recognized as one of the icons of Italian music, but also the very meaning of honorary citizenship itself. For its supporters, it represents fitting recognition for an artist who has helped promote Rimini's image and strengthen its cultural and touristic appeal; for its opponents, an honor of this kind should instead meet different criteria.

Meanwhile, the Emilian singer-songwriter is already looking ahead to next year. After “Vasco Live 2026” wraps up, the rocker will celebrate fifty years of his career with a residency of ten consecutive shows at Rome's Stadio Olimpico in June. The announcement has already broken records, with over 550,000 tickets sold in less than half an hour after general sale opened.

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