Who is Luca Sammartino, “the vote catcher” who moved from the UDC to the League (through Pd and Italia Viva)

Catania, 17 April 2024 – Il vice president of the Sicilian Region Luca Sammartino he was suspended from public office for a year. The measure, ordered by the investigating judge of the court of Catania as part of the‘Pandora’ investigation (11 arrests among politicians, entrepreneurs and officials), was notified by the Carabinieri of the Etna Provincial Command. Sammartino, who is also regional councilor for Agriculture and is one of the leaders of the League in Sicily, is under investigation for aggravated corruption. But who is Luca Sammartino?

The child prodigy of politics

In September 2022, on the eve of the regional vote – reports an Agi agency -, in an interview with the Catania newspaper “La Sicilia”, Luca Sammartino, 39 years old, among the leading exponents of League in Trinacria and vice-president of the Sicilian Region, he was convinced: “Now is the time for the most important challenge, that of a new party and a new generation”.

“Vote catcher” dentist

L’dentist child prodigy of the island’s politics, was today the recipient of the s suspension from public office for one year for aggravated corruption as part of the “Pandora” operation. Catanese, elected by votemany, 21,017, in the “Italy Salvini prime minister first” list, is in his third legislature. In the previous one – Agi always reminds us – it had been president of the Culture, Training and Work Commission. But, he insisted, “we can no longer postpone the assumption of responsibility: the choices on the future of Sicily depend on the League and its young ruling class”. Indicated as secretary of the ‘Italy First Parliamentary Group – Lega Salvini Premier’, the President of the Region, Renato Schifanihe named it his deputyas well as Councilor for Agriculture, Rural Development and Mediterranean Fisheries.

From the UDC to the League (passing through the Pd and Italia Viva)

Sammartino has always won a lot of votes, just as he changed parties from right to left with ease. In 2012, in the XVI legislature, at just 27 years oldhad been elected in UDC ranks with 12,606 votes; then he had passed into the ‘hybrid’ training Article 4. In 2015 the arrival in PD. For the Dems he was in the running for a seat in the 17th legislature, which he won with good results 33 thousand preferences. In 2019 here he is in Italy alive with Matteo Renzi. AND in 2021 the shock for the other MatteoSalviniand the Leagueof which he is a current representative in the regional parliament and in the executive of Palace of Orleans as deputy governor, after having assumed the role of manager of the national electoral campaign in Sicily for the Northern League.

An unstoppable race for Sammartino, who always confidently shook off the dust deposited by two trials for electoral corruption – the Agi agency always reports – , with respect to whose protests he has always said he is “absolutely extraneous”. Now this judicial tile.

Charges of aggravated corruption

According to the charge that led to his suspension from public office, the politician – “main contact person for the mayor of Tremestieri Etneo”, Santi Randowho ended up in prison today for political-mafia electoral exchange and aggravated corruption – would have obtained, on the occasion of the 2019 European elections, a commitment in favor of one of his candidates from one of those arrested, former municipal councilor and owner of a pharmacy who would have benefited in exchange, “also thanks to the intervention of Luca Sammartino”, then regional deputy, from the reduction in the number of pharmacies present in the municipal organic plan.

Learn more:

Luca Sammartino, vice president of Sicily suspended for corruption while his uncle Claudio investigates for mafia in Bari

The revocation of the delegation

Revocation of delegation in sight for Luca Sammartino (Lega), vice president of the Sicilian Region and councilor for Agriculture, investigated in the Pandora investigation by the Catania Prosecutor’s Office and suspended from public functions for a year. Heard the news the governor of Sicily, Renato Schifani, he immediately got to work. It is probable, at this point, that Schifani will keep the delegation for himself at least until the European elections. The suspension for one year will also prevent Sammartino from carrying out the role of regional deputy, he is registered in the parliamentary group of the League.