The celebration of the 'No' front in the squares of Palermo and Catania: 'A response to the way the right builds consensus'

They also met in Palermo, in Piazza Politeama, and in Catania, in Piazza Stesicoro, to celebrate the victory of the No  in the constitutional referendum on justice. 

In the capital of the island, about «un thousand people», according to those present, gathered after a quick word-of-mouth on chat and social media. After the first projections, a poster was posted featuring an image from a previous demonstration for the no, recalling a verse from Dante: «And then we emerged to see the stars». Hundreds of people demonstrated with the flags of PD, Cgil, Anpi, and M5S. Also present were the committees that worked hard in the referendum campaign: civil society, lawyers, and magistrates. «We have been fighting for years in defense of the Constitution. We must keep going like this», said Claudio Riolo, president of the committee for the No in the referendum.

Catania is also mobilizing to celebrate. The appointment in Piazza Stesicoro brought together leaders and activists from PD, Alleanza Verdi e Sinistra, Movimento 5 Stelle, and civil society. An improvised demonstration, born spontaneously a few hours after the first results were released.

With flags and applause, they celebrated a result that, according to the organizers, «represents a clear political signal even at the local level». Present were the regional secretary of the PD Anthony Barbagallo, the provincial secretary Giuseppe Pappalardo, and the group leader in the city council Maurizio Caserta. Pappalardo spoke of «an extraordinary victory throughout the province. At the foot of Etna – he declared – the response was clear: a full result in all municipalities, with particularly significant peaks like in Trecastagni, where the No nearly reached 75 percent. The outcome of the polls shows how citizens have chosen to defend the Constitution and democratic values».

The provincial secretary of the Pd then added: «This vote also represents a response to the way the center-right tries to build consensus. People are tired and have reacted with a clear choice.» Finally, a comment on the result in the provincial capital: «The data from Catania demonstrates how citizens are now light years away from the municipal administration, a clear and strong signal to Mayor Trantino.»