Sicily budget variations approved amid shifting political alliances

The Sicilian Regional Assembly has approved significant budget variations, stripping 52 articles from the original “Cohesion and Growth” bill to prioritize urgent economic sectors. The revised plan allocates approximately 51 million euros to critical industries, including 15 million euros each for the cereal and road transport sectors, and 9 million euros for the fishing industry. Other funds are designated for student communication assistants and agricultural fuel.

Politically, the region faces shifting alliances. Cateno De Luca, leader of Sud chiama Nord, has secured a national electoral agreement with Fratelli d’Italia for the 2027 elections but maintains a stance of “free hands” regarding Sicilian regional politics. De Luca has also strengthened his movement by recruiting regional assessor Andrea Messina. De Luca has declared his candidacy for the Sicilian presidency, positioning himself against the current administration.

Governor Renato Schifani has dismissed rumors regarding his resignation, stating he will “honor my mandate until the end” and will not seek re-election. He has also addressed internal tensions within Forza Italia, characterizing recent reports as mere gossip. Meanwhile, the Lega has cautioned De Luca that any participation in the center-right coalition must involve shared political decisions rather than autonomous regional moves.