MESSINA – The president of the 5 Star Movement parliamentary group in the Sicilian Regional Assembly, Antonio de Luca, coldly analyzes the results of the European elections in the Sicily region and in Messina. The 5 Star Movement, with 16.5% of the votes, confirms itself as the first opposition party at regional level, despite a decline compared to the 2019 European elections. De Luca, in the interview given to Tempostretto, goes beyond the result and reflects on the aspects that could have improved the electoral performance and on the future prospects of the Movement in view of the next regional elections. Noting “a downsizing of Cateno De Luca’s Movement in” the race for leadership of the coalition with the Democratic Party in view of the next regional elections in 2027.
Honorable Antonio De Luca, the regional result of the European elections, 16.5 percent means the first opposition party even if with a percentage halved compared to the 2019 European elections. How do you see the glass, half full or half empty?
“If we compare it with 2019, the comparison is a little unfair because that was the period of our heyday. Elections must always be evaluated in the current context. 16.5% is a flattering result, although lower than our expectations. The polls gave us 23%, but they leave the time they find. We expected 18%. Therefore, we are slightly below what was expected, but it is still a satisfactory outcome compared to other opposition forces. Making a comparison with 2019 is similar to when Italy won the World Cup: you can’t win every year.”
Is there anything that you think could have been done and hasn’t been done to reach that missing 2 percent according to your estimates?
“We could have recovered that 2 percent by presenting the lists and most of the candidates more in advance. If our lists had been built more in advance and with a few more prominent figures, we could have achieved a better result. The lists are often presented only 30 days in advance, creating difficulties in structuring the electoral campaign. Surely more work needs to be done in the territories on the construction of lists, this as a basic point. Then, for example, if there had been the candidacy of President Conte, who out of consistency did not do as other party leaders did, we would have easily had those 2-3 percentage points more.”
We also look at the outcome of the European elections in view of the regional elections. Forza Italia (23.73% together with Cuffaro’s Democrazia, Lombardo’s Mpa and Noi Moderati) and Fratelli d’Italia (20.19%) are the first two parties, followed by the 5 Star Movement with 16.5%, first opposition force. Then there is the Pd with 14.35%, Libertà (of Cateno De Luca, represented by Sud calls Nord to the Ars) with 7.67% and Avs 4.80. What changes in view of the next regional elections?
“The result certainly reduces Cateno De Luca within the regional scene. We also experienced our golden moment in 2018 and 2019, but all golden moments have a beginning and an end. The 5 Star Movement has reconfirmed that it is the first opposition force in Sicily, a fact that has been structured since 2012. The future presidential candidate must not be the result of a relationship of strength or self-conviction, but must be the result of an ability to aggregate, because a vast and solid project is needed in Sicily to defeat the electoral machine of the centre-right”.
There is excitement in the 5 Star Movement and with the guarantor Grillo, the stop to the third mandate, the need to return to the origins, is back in the news. And whoever claims, however, that the time of one is worth one is over. She is also in her second term at Ars. What is your opinion?
“Certainly the issue of two mandates can be a limit to the formation of an expert ruling class. However, let’s not make it the mother of all problems, because she is not. In some contexts, the dual mandate is a limitation, but it should not be an excuse. Administrative, regional and European are different competitions that must be approached with different rules. For example, I would eliminate any type of mandate constraint for administrative offices.”
There are also those who maintain that those who have gained experience at a regional level could continue beyond the two mandates on a national scale, taking with them the experience gained at a regional level. What do you think?
“I would not view this possibility unfavorably, as it does not favor the centralization of power, given the diversity of the buildings. He arrives at the new parliament without having centralized a position of strength, but he certainly arrives with an experience that allows him to manage the role with adequate competence. However, I repeat that it is not a topic that I am particularly passionate about: if it is abolished, so be it; if it stays, good. I will continue to play my role within the 5 Star Movement.”
I would like to conclude with an examination of the vote in Messina: 11.39% in the city, a city in which the 5 Star Movement remained outside the city council and in which you elected Antoci. What is your analysis of the vote in Messina?
“It is not possible to make a direct comparison between an administrative data and a European one, however, Antoci’s candidacy was recognized as valid and worthy of support. We need to continue working on this front. Giuseppe Antoci, in a recent convivial thank you meeting organized in my secretariat in Via Dogali, expressed his desire to collaborate with me and with Senator Barbara Floridia in the management of the secretariat. This marks the beginning of an initiative for the city of Messina, which the 5 Star Movement begins to develop from today, drawing up projects, programs, activities and lists that will be presented to the Municipality and the neighborhoods in the coming years”.
