If the last day for the presentation of the lists is, historically, the most hectic, in the case of the 2026 Messina administrative elections it was even more so, with the risk that the escalation of controversies and tensions, between now and the day of the vote and beyond, could even increase. As was predictable, even the last hours before the “gong” were characterized by yellow signatures. A brief recap of previous episodes is needed.
At the beginning of March, the leader of South Calls North, Cateno De Luca, formally asked the regional department for local authorities whether the exemption provided for the parties represented in the ARS, exempted from collecting signatures (from 700 to 2 thousand) to run in the elections, was extendable to all the lists presented – fifteen, specifically -, as long as they had the party symbol present in each sign. The response from Palermo was affirmative, so South calls North and presented fifteen lists without collecting any signatures.
Last weekend, when the responses of the regional councilor became public, the case exploded, with the centre-right mayoral candidate, Marcello Scurria, announcing battle, presenting a formal warning to the district electoral commission (suggesting asking for a further opinion and threatening to appeal to the TAR in case of acceptance of the lists).
Yesterday, then, just as the representatives of South calls North were filing the lists, Marcello Scurria held a press conference: «Yesterday – said Scurria – we learned that the regional department asked the legislative and legal office of the Region for a further opinion and that the latter, the highest body that deals with the legal issues of the Region, forwarded it to the department. It seems that this opinion contradicts the manager and has explored the issue of the confusion of the lists. Or at least we deduce it, since it hasn’t been broadcast yet. I’m not pointing the finger at anyone, but if there are rules they must be respected, without shortcuts. If asking for respect for the law means threatening, let’s reject this unworthy way of conducting an electoral campaign.”
A new opinion, everywhere, of which, however, there was no official news throughout the day. To the point that in the afternoon Scurria continued: «Despite a formal request to the prefect of Messina, the opinion has still not been transmitted or acquired. The general manager who asked for the opinion claims that the document cannot be displayed. All this is unacceptable and could taint the electoral process. I have given a mandate to a lawyer to ask the Palermo Prosecutor’s Office to immediately seize the opinion and I have urged the prefect of Messina to request and acquire the opinion.” In the meantime, the representative of the “Marcello Scurria mayor” list, Ciccio Curcio, has presented a formal complaint to the electoral commission.
And De Luca? The ScN leader showed calm regarding the procedures followed: «For days we have been witnessing a clear attempt to poison the political climate, but we will not be intimidated. We have built an impressive organizational machine, elections are won with the consent of citizens, not with attempts to influence the proceedings. We move forward, with serenity, determination and in full compliance with the rules. In any case, we are already ready, with authenticators activated, to collect over 10,000 signatures in 48 hours, if this strategy, which appears to have been discussed and which also appears to involve the President of the Schifani Region, were to be implemented.”
A question and answer, yet another, which accompanies a fundamental question: will all the lists be accepted? Yesterday evening an indiscretion filtered out, according to which the district electoral commission, established in the prefecture, had raised a formal flaw not on the collection of signatures – certainly the main obstacle -, but on the graphics of the symbols (to be clarified whether all or just some) of the South calls North lists, with 24 hours to remedy the situation. We will know more today. After yet another tense, hectic day.