South calls North (, ScN) is a regionalist and populist political party in Italy, based in Sicily and led by former mayor of Messina Cateno De Luca.
History In 2007, Cateno De Luca, a former Christian Democrat who had been a member of the Christian Democratic Centre (1994–2002), the Union of the Centre (2002–2005) and the Movement for Autonomy (2005–2008), formed Sicilia Vera, which soon became an independent party.
In June 2022, in the run-up to the Sicilian regional election, De Luca, along with former Five Star Movement MEP Dino Giarrusso, launched "South calls North", as a broader political vehicle than Sicilia Vera. However, after a few weeks, Giarrusso left the party due to conflicts with De Luca with regard to the party's candidatures in the following election and De Luca remained the sole leader.Elezioni politiche, strappo tra De Luca e Giarrusso: "Ci siamo separati, abbiamo idee diverse", Normanno
ScN took part in the 2022 general election, winning one single-member constituency in the Chamber of Deputies with Francesco Gallo, and one in the Senate of the Republic with Dafne Musolino, both from the districts of Messina, where ScN was capable to collect more than 30% of votes.Elezioni 2022 – Collegio uninominale Sicilia 2, Messina. Ministero dell'InternoPolitiche a Messina: Francesco Gallo e Tommaso Calderone vincono alla Camera, Gazzetta del SudIn Sicilia è andato molto bene il partito di Cateno De Luca, Il Post Contextually, in the 2022 regional election De Luca came second, with 24.0% of the vote, behind the centre-right candidate Renato Schifani,Elezioni regionali 2022 – Presidenti, Regione Sicilia while the affiliated party lists obtained 18.1%, electing eight members of the Sicilian Regional Assembly;Elezioni regionali 2022 – Liste , Regione Sicilia upon the formation of parliamentary groups, four councillors elected with ScN formed a distinct parliamentary group named "Sicilia Vera", De Luca's other party.Sicilia Vera. Assemblea Regionale Siciliana
In March 2023, Laura Castelli, a former leading member of the Five Star Movement joined the party, becoming its spokesperson.Sud chiama Nord, Laura Castelli nuova portavoce. MessinaToday In January 2024, Castelli was appointed president of the party. In September 2023, senator Musolino left the party in order to join Matteo Renzi's Italia Viva.
In 2024, the party signed a deal with Franco Cuccureddu, a former member of the Movement for Autonomy (MpA), who became the party's representative in Sardinia. Cuccureddu's list, named Shared Horizon (OC), run in the regional election within the centre-left coalition gaining three seats.
In March 2024, De Luca launched Freedom, a populist electoral list with several regionalist and anti-establishment minor parties, with the aim of taking part in the 2024 European Parliament election.Accordo per le Europee tra Cateno De Luca e l’ex ministro leghista Castelli. “Bossi approva il nostro progetto”. la Repubblica
Ideology The party has been described as regionalist, autonomist and populist.“Sud chiama nord” la nuova idea di Cateno De Luca “Nostre liste alle nazionali”, Blog Sicilia ScN also supports federalism, advocating for a greater administrative decentralization and greater decision-making power for local administrators. Moreover, the party is also in favor of increasing the powers of the Prime Minister of Italy, comparing this position to a "mayor of Italy",Manifesto politico, Sud chiama Nord as it is clearly shown in the party's logo under the slogan "De Luca for Mayor of Italy".Fenomeno De Luca, Sud chiama Nord meglio dei partiti di Lupi e Di Maio: "Alla Camera risultato eclatante", Palermo Today
Election results Italian Parliament Election Leader Chamber of Deputies Senate of the RepublicGovernment Votes % Seats +/– Position Votes % Seats +/– Position 2022 Cateno De Luca 212,685 0.76 New 13th 272,462 1.0 New 13th
European Parliament Election Leader Votes % Seats +/– EP Group 2024 Cateno De Luca Into Freedom New –
Regional Councils Region Election Candidate Votes % Seats +/– Sicily 2022 Cateno De Luca 254,453 13.61 New Piedmont 2024 Alberto CostanzoInto Freedom New Calabria 2025 Roberto Occhiuto 1,527 0.20 New
Symbols
Leadership Secretary: Dino Giarrusso (2022), Cateno De Luca (2022–present) Coordinator: Cateno De Luca (2022) President: Ismaele La Vardera (2022–2024), Laura Castelli (2024–present) Spokesperson: Laura Castelli (2023–2024)
References
See also Sicilia Vera