Overview

• A faction of Sicilian PD deputies has accused outgoing secretary Anthony Barbagallo of electoral fraud during a January vote that excluded open primaries for the regional congress.
• The January vote allegedly involved 65 non-members and 52 fake profiles, leading to calls for the publication of the voter list to ensure transparency.
• Deputy Fabio Venezia has tied his potential candidacy to the immediate release of the voter list, warning he and others will boycott the May 15–June 1 congress if demands are unmet.
• Barbagallo, backed by the national PD leadership, remains the sole candidate for regional secretary, with critics linking the dispute to broader tensions between national factions led by Elly Schlein and Stefano Bonaccini.
• The crisis follows a series of poor electoral performances by the Sicilian PD, raising concerns about the party's legitimacy and unity ahead of future elections.