Politics
Yesterday, the union posters calling for the electoral rallies for the European and administrative elections were posted in the appropriate electoral spaces and published in the online noticeboard. The posting date (Thursday 25 April) corresponds to the forty-fifth day before the vote. We are now awaiting notification of further documents and circulars, via the Prefecture of Trapani, concerning the various obligations. With decree no. 69 of 10 April 2024 of the Councilor for Local Autonomy and Public Function, the rallies relating to the administrative elections for the election of the mayor and the municipal council were called.
Mazara del Vallo is among the 37 Sicilian municipalities and among the 4 municipalities in the province of Trapani called to vote, at the same time as the European elections scheduled for Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 June. In particular: the voting operations (both European and administrative) will take place on Saturday 08 June 2024, from 3.00 pm to 11.00 pm, and on Sunday, 09 June 2024, from 7.00 am: 00 to 11.00 pm and (naturally only for administrative elections) in the event of a second round of balloting, on Sunday 23 June 2024, from 07.00 to 23.00 and on Monday 24 June 2024, from 07:00 to 15:00.
The regional decree reports the latest data on the resident population validated by Istat in the municipalities called to vote. For Mazara del Vallo the latest data validated by Istat dates back to January 1, 2023 and is 50,312 residents. The data as of 31 December 2023 which sees the resident population of Mazara falling below 50 thousand inhabitants has not yet been validated by Istat and therefore in this round there will still be 24 municipal councilors to be elected (same number as the current council).
There are three mayoral candidates: the current mayor Salvatore Quinci (supported by six lists: “Brothers of Italy”, “Mazara Lighthouse of the Mediterranean”, “Right to the City-South Call North Movement”, “Political Observatory”, “Participation Politics” and “Salvatore Quinci Mayor”); the lawyer Vita Ippolito (supported by six lists: “Forza Italia”, “Dc”, “Mpa-La Forza dei Fatti”, “UDc”, “Energia Popolare” and “Più Vita per Mazara”); and the already twice mayor (from 2009 to 2019) the Hon. Nicola Cristaldi (supported by four lists: “Futurists”, “Pride and Future”, “Cristaldi Mayor” and “Democratic Voices”).
Therefore there is great excitement in the city, everyone is looking for votes, for themselves and (not to be taken for granted) for the relevant mayoral candidates. It is an electoral campaign that sees popular involvement through meetings and messages conveyed through social media; an event that increasingly takes on the characteristics of a “social-pop” phenomenon.
What happened in the 2019 administrative elections. There were six candidates: Salvatore Quinci, Giorgio Randazzo, Nicola La Grutta, Antonina Mariella Martinciglio, Benedetta Corrao and Pasquale Safina. 65% of those entitled to vote in the first round voted. Salvatore Quinci received 31.5% of the votes (8,650 preferences) and his lists: Osservatorio Politico 3,071 votes (5 seats), SiAmo Mazara 2,246 votes (3 seats), Participazione Politica 2,114 votes (3 seats), Mazara Bene Comune votes 2,042 (3 seats). Giorgio Randazzo received 34.2% of the votes (6,657 preferences) and his lists: Lega Salvini Sicilia 2,248 votes (2 seats), Libera Intesa 1890 votes (2 seats), Mazara Libera 1,296 votes (0 seats), Autonomisti 964 votes (0 seats).
Nicola La Grutta received 18.5% of the votes (5,084 preferences) and his only M5S list 3,595 votes, the most voted by the people of Mazara, winning 3 seats in the City Council. Antonina Mariella Martinciglio received 11.1% of the votes (3,036 preferences) and her three lists: Futurists 2,087 votes (2 seats), Volare 1,105 votes (0 seats), Avvenire 146 votes (0 seats). Benedetta Corrao received 10.5% (2,882 preferences) and her lists: Diventerà Bellissima 1,178 votes (0 seats), Forza Italia 1,122 votes (0 seats), UDC 821 votes (0 seats).
Pasquale Safina received 4.2% of the votes (1,142 preferences), his only “Democratic Voices” list 809 votes (0 seats).
Francesco Mezzapelle
