Maria Pappa
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Maria Pappa | |
|---|---|
| Mayor of St. Gallen | |
| Assumed office January 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Thomas Scheitlin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1971 (age 54–55) St. Gallen, Canton of St. Gallen, Switzerland |
| Party | Social Democratic Party |
| Occupation | politician, social worker |
| Website | maria-pappa.ch |
Maria Pappa (born 1971) is a Swiss-Italian politician. A member of the Social Democratic Party of Switzerland, she was elected to the City Parliament of St. Gallen in 2013 and to the St. Gallen City Council in 2017. As a city councilor, she served as Head of the Planning and Construction Directorate. In 2020, she became the first woman, and the first Seconda, to be elected as Mayor of St. Gallen. Upon taking office in 2021, she heads the city's Interior and Finance Directorate.
Pappa was born in St. Gallen in 1971. Her parents, Michele and Saveria Pappa, immigrated to Switzerland from Calabria in the 1960s.[1] She was raised Catholic.[2] As a child, Pappa spoke Italian and did not learn German until she was in primary school.[1]
Upon completing her secondary education, Pappa attended business school and worked as an accountant.[1] She went back to school to study social work.[3]