The Democratic Party group leader in the Sestu City Council, a philosophy graduate, teacher, tour guide, and now coordinator of the Cagliari Democratic Party provincial secretariat, Michela Mura has never stopped participating in politics. Not even during the months during which, as she explained on social media, she battled cancer—"complex and exhausting months that have catapulted me into my 50s in ways I could not have imagined." A personal experience that becomes a public narrative and a collective message, but without rhetoric and without the narrative of the disease as a "war."
Why this choice?
Because it's the wrong approach. Talking about war only weakens the spirit of those who face it, who don't feel like warriors at all. There's not a battle to be fought, but a life to be lived and reprogrammed based on one's energy, plans, and character. I chose not to remain at the mercy of events and to forge my own path: I walked, I cycled, I danced. I put physical activity first and created my own wellness protocol. Priorities change, you learn to enjoy what you have and not procrastinate.
During her illness she remained in politics.
I've been active in politics all my life: it's part of my identity, my character, my way of being in the world. Continuing wasn't an effort but a natural choice. On June 25th, I underwent a biopsy, and on July 8th, I was in the City Council to discuss public transportation in the city: being there meant being myself.
How difficult was it?
The hardest thing is protecting your identity. Chemo brings with it a huge upheaval, and for me, hair is identity: it frames the face, gives expression, and protects. Losing it meant being naked before the world. Continuing to be involved in politics was for me a way to rework, day by day, who I was and who I am.
Is it true that she was mocked for her hair in institutional settings?
Yes, it was body shaming in every sense of the word. I feel sorry for those who made those jokes: humanity was lacking. We should learn to lead by example. It's not a question of long or short hair, height, or physical appearance: it's the difficulty of distinguishing between the private and public spheres. To those who made comments, even blatant ones, I chose to respond in front of everyone. I simply decided to ignore the smiles and whispers in my ear.
Did you expect more support from your colleagues in the Council?
No, but I wasn't looking for it. The strongest support came from those who were going through what I was going through or who had already been there. They're the only ones capable of conveying the lightness of not feeling judged, of being able to say "I'm scared" out loud, of asking the most uncomfortable questions without shame. Today I'd like to give all of this back: so many women write to me and express their love. Word of mouth is an incredible support network.
Some are suggesting you're a center-left candidate for mayor in the municipal elections. Are you ready?
"I've been involved since 2009, and I'm still available to build an alternative for Sestu. It's a project we've been working on for years, and I've continued to follow it over the past few months. In the coming weeks, we'll intensify our meetings with the group and anyone who wants to contribute to a concrete alternative for our city."
So would you accept the challenge?
"I'd be available, but I'm part of a 'us,' a political community that works and decides together for the future of Sestu."
Alessandra Ragas