Independence movements

History of Sardinian autonomy and independence politics

From the 1948 Special Statute establishing Sardinian autonomy, through the modern fragmented landscape of small pro-independence parties, to their marginal result at the 2024 regional election.

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The 1948 Special Statute

Constitutional Law No. 3 of 26 February 1948 constituted Sardinia, with its islands, an autonomous Region with its own juridical personality "within the political unity of the Italian Republic, one and indivisible," with Cagliari as its capital.[1] Sardinia thereby became one of Italy's five special-statute autonomous regions, alongside Sicily, Valle d'Aosta, Trentino-Alto Adige and Friuli-Venezia Giulia.[2]

A fragmented independence-party scene

Sardinia has long had a small, fragmented scene of pro-sovereignty and pro-independence parties, typically numbering five to ten at any given time.[3] Sardigna Natzione Indipendentzia (SNI), a minor separatist and socialist party, was founded in 1994.[4] Indipendèntzia Repùbrica de Sardigna (iRS) is another such party, from which a January 2011 split produced Project Republic of Sardinia (ProgReS), which describes itself as regionalist, Sardinian nationalist, social-democratic and separatist.[5][6]

The 2024 regional election

At the election of 25 February 2024, Alessandra Todde (centre-left) narrowly defeated Paolo Truzzu (centre-right), 45.4% to 45.0%, becoming Sardinia's first female president; the centre-left coalition won 36 Regional Council seats against the centre-right's 24.[7][8][9]

Pro-independence lists fared poorly: "Vote Sardinia," a joint list of iRS and ProgReS within the Soru coalition, won 10,830 votes (1.6%) and no seats, and "Sardigna R-Esiste," including Red Moors and supporting a separate presidential bid, won 4,067 votes (0.6%) and no seats.[10]

· Election

Sardinian regional election, 2024

Alessandra Todde narrowly won Sardinia's presidency, becoming its first female president, while pro-independence lists won no seats.

Sources for this page

Each number marks a specific claim. Notes give the source, its locator and how it relates to the claim.

  1. 1.

    Claim: The Special Statute for Sardinia (Constitutional Law No. 3 of 26 February 1948) constitutes Sardinia, with its islands, an autonomous Region with juridical personality "within the political unity of the Italian Republic, one and indivisible," with Cagliari as its capital.

    • Special Statute for the Autonomous Region of Sardinia: February 26, 1948 (Oxford Constitutional Law (Oxford University Press), 26 February 1948) link, Article 1. Source record
  2. 2.

    Claim: Sardinia is one of Italy's five special-statute autonomous regions, alongside Sicily, Valle d'Aosta, Trentino-Alto Adige and Friuli-Venezia Giulia, each holding legislative powers beyond those of Italy's fifteen ordinary regions.

  3. 3.

    Claim: Sardinia's pro-sovereignty and pro-independence political scene is fragmented across some five to ten small parties at any given time, of which ProgReS, iRS and SNI are among the most prominent.

    • Project Republic of Sardinia (Wikipedia) link, summary of the Sardinian independence party landscape. Source record
  4. 4.

    Claim: Sardigna Natzione Indipendentzia (SNI), founded in 1994, is a minor separatist and socialist Sardinian party.

  5. 5.

    Claim: Indipendèntzia Repùbrica de Sardigna (iRS) is a Sardinian nationalist and separatist party from which, in January 2011, a split produced Project Republic of Sardinia (ProgReS).

  6. 6.

    Claim: ProgReS (Progetu Repùblica), founded in January 2011, describes itself as a regionalist, Sardinian nationalist, social-democratic and separatist party.

  7. 7.

    Claim: At the regional election of 25 February 2024, Alessandra Todde (centre-left) narrowly defeated Paolo Truzzu (centre-right): 334,160 votes (45.4%) to 331,099 votes (45.0%).

    • 2024 Sardinian regional election (Wikipedia) link, Presidential results. Source record
    • Result of regional elections in Sardinia, Alessandra Todde claims victory (L'Unione Sarda English, February 2024) link, article text. Source record
  8. 8.

    Claim: Alessandra Todde became Sardinia's first female president.

    • Result of regional elections in Sardinia, Alessandra Todde claims victory (L'Unione Sarda English, February 2024) link, article text. Source record
  9. 9.

    Claim: The centre-left coalition won 36 seats in the Regional Council against 24 for the centre-right coalition.

    • 2024 Sardinian regional election (Wikipedia) link, Regional Council results. Source record
  10. 10.

    Claim: Pro-independence lists fared poorly at the 2024 election: "Vote Sardinia," a joint list of iRS and ProgReS within the Soru coalition, won 10,830 votes (1.6%) and no seats; "Sardigna R-Esiste," including Red Moors and supporting a separate presidential bid, won 4,067 votes (0.6%) and no seats.

    • 2024 Sardinian regional election (Wikipedia) link, Minor lists and independence-oriented results. Source record

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Printed from https://independenceatlas.com/movements/sardinia/history · last substantive update 24 September 2026.