Politics · Italy · 1 day ago
Milan mayoral candidate depicts himself as a Black Italian Obama
Salvatore Varano, an accountant from Calabria, says he is running for mayor of Milan with a civic project called Orgoglio Milano.
He shared an AI-generated image showing himself with dark skin and called himself “the Italian Obama.”
Varano said the image was a joke and a way to reflect on how society and politics are changing.
He has also promoted about 30 local committees for Futuro Nazionale, a party founded by Roberto Vannacci, though his current party ties are unclear.
In June, Varano was sentenced to five years in prison in a first-instance ruling over false invoicing, in a case involving alleged illegal transfers of 85 million euros to China.
A separate investigation linked to his 2021 mayoral campaign was later archived.
Varano says that, for now, he is only running to become “the Milanese Obama of the cartoon,” and that what comes next remains to be seen.
Salvatore Varano, a candidate for mayor of Milan, used an AI-generated image showing himself with dark skin.
He described the image as a joke and a provocation, and called himself “the Milanese Obama of the cartoon.”
Varano said he had founded a civic project called Orgoglio Milano and was running for mayor.
He has promoted about 30 committees for Futuro nazionale, a party associated with Roberto Vannacci.
In June, Varano was sentenced in the first instance to five years in prison over false invoicing.
- Who
- Salvatore Varano, an accountant from Calabria and candidate for mayor of Milan.
- What
- He used AI to depict himself with dark skin and called himself “the Milanese Obama of the cartoon.
- When
- The article was published on October 10, 2026; it does not state when he made the image.
- Where
- Milan, Italy.
- Why
- Varano said he wanted to joke about his image and prompt reflection on changes in cities, society and politics.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
I wanted to joke about my image
as a candidate for mayor of color
The United States had Barack Obama as president. Why not imagine that one day Italy too could have a prime minister of color?
For now I am only running to become the Milanese Obama of the cartoon. For the rest, we will see what the future has in store for us.
Varano ran for Milan city council with his own civic list and was investigated over alleged political-mafia vote trading; the investigation was later archived.
Varano promoted about 30 Futuro nazionale committees from Calabria to Lombardy.
Varano was sentenced in the first instance to five years in prison for false invoicing.
Il Fatto Quotidiano reported on Varano’s AI image and his mayoral candidacy.
- Candidate
- Salvatore Varano
- Civic project
- Orgoglio Milano
- Party committees
- About 30 Futuro nazionale committees
- First-instance sentence
- Five years in prison
- Alleged illicit transfers
- 85 million euros, in an investigation into false invoicing
Sources
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