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Two wins out of three. And above all, two successes arrived in territories where the centre-right was considered the favourite. The 2026 municipal elections give Ismaele La Vardera a political result that goes beyond the administrative data: his Countercurrent movement conquers Agrigento and Bronte, while it stops one step away from success in Ispica.
The heaviest result comes in the City of Temples. Michele Sodano is the new mayor of Agrigento with 72.31% of the votes. A victory without appeal against Dino Alonge, a candidate supported by part of the centre-right, stuck at 27.69%. A gap that photographs the collapse of the opponents and the consolidation of an alliance which, starting from the candidacy of Controcorrente, was then extended to the entire progressive camp. The new mayor Sodano will have to govern with a hostile city council. The centre-left lists obtained only 22.81% and 5 councillors: 3 for Controcorrente and 2 for the Pd. The linked lists of the centre-right won 14 seats with 60.66%: 5 to FdI, 4 to FI, 3 to Popolari autonomisti-Grande Sicilia, 2 to Forza Azzurri; in addition to 1 seat for the defeated mayoral candidate; seats which become 19 with 2 each for Lega Sicilia and DC. «Today is a new day for Agrigento – said the new mayor -. This achievement is not just mine but that of a community that has believed in us from the beginning. We started alone as Controcorrente and together with the wide field we achieved victory.” It had never happened that the left governed the city of the Temples: before the direct election it was an undisputed fiefdom of the DC and from the 1990s onwards by its heirs, such as Udeur and Udc. Only in one moment, in 2007, did the DS win the local elections but by supporting Marco Zambuto, a member of Udeur, who became mayor. In recent years Agrigento has been the undisputed electoral basin of politicians representing the centre-right parties: Fi, Mpa-autonomists, Udc.
And the other surprise comes from Bronte. Here Giuseppe Gullotta, lawyer and civic candidate supported by the La Vardera movement, clearly beat Giuseppe Castiglione, national parliamentarian of Forza Italia, former president of the Province of Catania and former undersecretary. A heavy name in Sicilian and national politics, supported by the centre-right apparatus and linked to the historical administrative experience of the outgoing mayor Pino Firrarello. The verdict of the polls therefore takes on a value that goes beyond the borders of the Etna municipality: a civic candidate supported by a young political force manages to prevail over one of the best-known exponents of the Sicilian centre-right.
The only discordant note for Controcorrente comes from Ispica, where Serafino Arena, supported by the 5 Star Movement, the Green-Left Alliance and the La Vardera movement itself, was defeated by Pierenzo Muraglie, elected mayor with 55% of the votes. “We are satisfied with the victory in the run-off of the new mayor of Ispica, Pierenzo Muraglie. The result speaks clearly: in this 56% that allowed Muraglie to become mayor, the support of South calls North was decisive, which, remember, in the first round took 17.3% with our candidate Paolo Monaca. We convincedly supported Muraglie and we are certain that together we will do a great job for the city of Ispica. Congratulations to all the new mayors elected in this round of the runoff”, says Cateno De Luca, leader of South calls North, in a note. “For South Calls North, this cycle of administrative elections ends definitively with a result exceeding all expectations, which confirms us as the leading political force in Sicily, having reached an average of 20% in the municipalities that voted with the proportional system. And on Wednesday, during the press conference at the Sicilian Parliament, we will show you numbers in hand because we will also be decisive in the next regional appointment”, concludes Cateno De Luca.
The final balance, however, remains positive for the leader of Controcorrente, who claims the political significance of the result. «I couldn’t have received a better gift for my birthday. We have shown that citizens want change and when they want they know how to choose well. Now we begin our government action in two strategic cities.” Then the attack against the regional government. «Our history starts from today, the liberation of Sicily starts from here. It is a clear eviction notice to the Schifani government. Agrigento can become a model to be exported to the next Regionals.”
Words that tell of the ambition to transform two administrative victories into a broader political laboratory. Because the data that emerges from the polls is clear: Controcorrente was present in three run-offs and won two of them. A result that strengthens La Vardera’s project and opens up a new game in the field of the Sicilian opposition, where the race to build an alternative to the center-right has already begun.