Messina protesters demand cancellation of Strait of Messina Bridge

Thousands of protesters gathered in Messina to demonstrate against the construction of the bridge connecting Sicily and Calabria. Organized by the 'No Ponte' network, the march included political representatives from the Democratic Party, Movimento 5 Stelle, and Alleanza Verdi Sinistra, as well as various labor unions and environmental groups.

A central demand of the protesters is the dissolution of Stretto di Messina Spa. Activists argue that closing the company is the only way to stop the project, which they claim has persisted for over forty years. Demonstrators highlighted that funds should instead be directed toward local necessities such as water security, schools, healthcare, and existing transport infrastructure.

The protest comes at a sensitive time for the project following recent approval from the High Council of Public Works for the next phase of executive design. While organizers claim the opposition is a majority view in the region, they criticized previous governments for failing to liquidate the company despite recommendations from the Court of Auditors.