Messina chooses Federico Basile again. The projections, now consolidated, give the outgoing mayor a clear affirmation which projects him towards reconfirmation as leader of the city without the need for a run-off. A broad result, built around administrative continuity and the political project linked to South Calls North and Cateno De Luca.
When data from three sections are missing to complete the ballot (65, 108 and 185) Basile reaches 58.41%. Marcello Scurria, candidate of the centre-right, stops at 26.93%, while Antonella Russo, supported by the centre-left with M5s and Controcorrente, stands at 12.2%. Gaetano Sciacca of Rinascita Messina at 1.71% and Lillo Valvieri at 0.74%.
A trend that has already emerged from the Rai exit polls of the Opinio Italia consortium, which assigned Basile a range of between 51% and 55%, immediately outlining a favorable scenario for the outgoing mayor.
In the mayor’s headquarters the atmosphere is that of celebration. Basile welcomed the first data with applause and hugs, speaking of a victory that rewards the work done in recent years and the relationship built with citizens. “I believe that the city has fully confirmed the work done so far”, he declared, underlining how the consensus obtained represents “the real measure of the good things done”.
The result also marks a new political affirmation for the area led by Cateno De Luca, who defined Messina’s as “a striking result”, speaking of the “third consecutive mandate” of their administrative experience in the city. According to the former mayor, the civic rooting of the political project and the ability to present itself to voters without traditional coalitions are decisive.
When the polls closed at 3pm, the final turnout stood at 61.93%, which confirms a significant participation in a particularly popular election round. With the vote still underway, Messina is therefore preparing to entrust the leadership of the city to Federico Basile again.
The reactions
Antonio De Luca (M5S): “The worst electoral campaign ever, even people who can’t read or write.”
«The sensations are those of those who faced an electoral campaign with the awareness that those who had control of the times decided well in advance when to vote, organizing themselves first and then distributing the papers, forcing the others to run in just 30 days between composition of the lists and administrative obligations. For this reason, come what may, I don’t think it could have gone any other way: nobody does miracles. I am equally convinced that this was, as far as I remember, the ugliest and poorest electoral campaign I have experienced since the university elections. Bad because it is characterized more by controversy than by proposals, without real rallies, with many people who don’t even openly say who they will vote for, out of fear, shame or fear of exposing themselves. I have also seen many candidates who never talk about politics during the rest of the year, not even on social media, where they limit themselves to banal topics. People asking to vote and who, in my opinion, represent the sign of a very low political and civic level, the likes of which I have never seen in the city. And this does not mean that those with less education are not entitled to run for office, but that the general level of debate has dropped drastically.”
Antonio Barbera (City Secretary of FI): “It’s nice to have seen so many voters return to the polls, it was sad to see low percentages, the growth gives us hope. The 30% for the centre-right is an increase compared to the 27% of Maurizio Croce in 4 years. Marcello was the best candidate that could have been chosen. The figure for the centre-left is certainly also very striking, which is quite low: around 13-15%. Then we will have to see the overall figure of the coalition: it is not a solid and compact coalition. While the contribution of the 15 supporting lists is decisive for Basile’s result. But the popular vote must be respected.”
Armando Hyerace (PD): “The Democratic Party was the linchpin of the progressive camp, fully assuming the political responsibility of this competition, starting from the candidacy for mayor. For this reason, we must first of all thank our candidate for mayor, Antonella Russo, who chose to face a difficult challenge by making herself available to a political project and a vision for the city with seriousness, balance and a sense of responsibility”, says Armando Hyerace, provincial secretary of the Democratic Party of Messina. “Thanks also go to all the candidates on the coalition’s lists, inside and outside the Democratic Party. They have faced this electoral campaign with authentic commitment, credibility and a spirit of service, often in conditions that are anything but simple: from the candidates for neighborhood presidencies to every single candidate for municipalities and constituencies; dispersing this human, civic and political heritage would be nonsense for those who care about the city and believe in a serious political path.
The Democratic Party will continue to carry out its role with seriousness and responsibility, within the institutions and in the city, also and above all supported by a path that together with the members and citizens who have joined our project we have started and intend to continue”, he concludes.
Francesco Gallo (ScN): “I don’t have to give lessons to anyone, but the center left must return to dialogue”https://messina.gazzettadelsud.it/articoli/politica/2026/05/26/messina-al-voto-la-citta-decide-lo-spoglio-in-diretta-su-rtp-91b46de8-f91b-45eb-a70b-63d49eb80294/.”The current data are numbers that confirm expectations and above all convey that enthusiasm that is right there are many militants, candidates and supporters who have given everything they could to support Federico, and it is right that at this moment they feel this joy: the joy of being on the right side, which in moments like these is the only thing that matters. most likely, what the final result would have been.
Mistakes are always made and they help us grow. I would stop here: it doesn’t seem like a day for controversies or examinations of conscience. I believe that our centre-right opponents made many more mistakes, thinking that with aggressive tactics they could dismantle a result that was perhaps already achieved from the start. As regards the centre-left, in the past I participated in a winning experience, which doesn’t happen often: I was a councilor in Franco Antonio Genovese’s council, about twenty years ago. It was a council in which there were all the centre-left parties, up to Rifondazione Comunista, passing through Mastella’s. This is to give an idea, in terms of “broad scope”, of how things can be done when there is the will and courage to do them.
I can’t give lessons to anyone, but we certainly need to find the right representatives in terms of the candidacy, without taking anything away from the doctor who has done her part very well. We need to create enthusiasm, create sharing, not isolate ourselves too much. When you vote for a monocratic office, with a system that requires you to work together, being picky is never advisable.”
Alessandro Russo (PD): “With a drop from 22 to 13% it is clear that there is a problem.”
«From the beginning the objective was clear: to try to bring the outgoing mayor to the run-off. Obviously, the two coalitions did everything they could during the election campaign. There is one fact, however, that should worry us as the centre-left: we cannot hide the dust under the carpet just because it is convenient to do so. The numbers show us significantly lower than in 2022. In less than four years – to be precise, three years and seven months – we have lost between 8 and 9 percentage points. We can’t pretend that everything is always fine. When the data are definitive, we will have the absolute need to address a profound political issue: a Democratic Party that is no longer able to be attractive
Carlotta Previti: “The organization of De Luca’s electoral machine is the winning card, I must admit it”. But we are facing a five-year period without funds and with increased budget debts. The center-right will monitor. The result was a coalition that governed for 8 years but with questionable results. Our goal was to win the elections and probably not everyone often has everything they could give. A reflection between us must be made. Matilde Siracusano is certainly the one who spent the most.”