German national Eike Schmidt has failed in his attempt to become mayor of Florence after a run-off election conducted in the Italian city on Sunday and Monday.
Schmidt, who was backed by Italy's right-wing national coalition led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, secured 39.4% of the vote behind Social Democrat Sara Funaro with 60.6%, the electoral commission announced. Funaro will be the city's first female mayor.
Florence, a city with a population of 360,000, is seen as a left-wing bastion, and Funaro's victory had been widely predicted. She succeeds Dario Nardella, another Social Democrat, who was not eligible to stand after two terms in office.
Schmidt, who holds Italian citizenship, stressed security and the battle against mass tourism in his campaign.
Schmidt was director of the Uffizi Gallery, one of the most important museums in the world, for eight years. He has been director of the Capodimonte Museum in Naples since January, from which he is currently on leave.
He had made clear beforehand that he would return to his work there in the event he failed to be elected.
