Sicilia
Covers Sicily's constitutional status as a special-statute autonomous region of Italy and the historical and modern movements advocating Sicilian independence. It does not attempt a full account of the 1940s Sicilian separatist movement's armed activity (EVIS) or the Italian state's military and judicial response, which require dedicated, carefully sourced treatment beyond this bundle's scope, nor a general political or cultural history of Sicily.
The Movement for the Independence of Sicily (MIS), founded in 1943, sought Sicilian independence and briefly turned to armed struggle through the Volunteer Army for the Independence of Sicily (EVIS) before its leader was killed in 1945.[1][2] In response to this unrest, Sicily was granted a special Statute of Autonomy by royal decree on 15 May 1946, later incorporated into the Italian Constitution in 1948, giving it extensive legislative and financial powers.[3][4][5] The MIS peaked electorally in 1947 with 8.8% of the vote and around eight seats, before declining and effectively ceasing activity by 1951; a revival movement founded in 2004 continues to advocate Sicilian independence as a marginal cultural and political current.[6][7][8]
Status verified as of
Sicily is a special-statute autonomous region of Italy under the 1946/1948 Statute, granted in response to 1940s separatist unrest. The historical independence movement effectively ended by 1951; a 2004-founded revival movement continues to advocate independence but holds no significant electoral representation.[4][7][8]
History
From the founding of the Movement for the Independence of Sicily in 1943 and its brief armed campaign, through the 1946 Statute of Autonomy granted in response, to the movement's 1947 electoral peak, its 1951 decline, and its 2004 revival.
393 words · 2 min read
· Organisation founded
A separatist movement seeking Sicilian independence formed during the Allied occupation of the island.
Significance here: The principal Sicilian separatist movement of the 1940s, whose armed and electoral activity directly shaped Italy's decision to grant Sicily special autonomy.
· Constitutional change
A special autonomy statute was granted to Sicily by royal decree, later incorporated into the Italian Constitution, to defuse separatist unrest.
Significance here: Established Sicily's modern special autonomous status, directly in response to the separatist and armed unrest of the mid-1940s.
Each number marks a specific claim. Notes give the source, its locator and how it relates to the claim.
Claim: The Movement for the Independence of Sicily (MIS) was founded on 10 July 1943, emerging from a Committee for the Independence of Sicily established in September 1942, seeking Sicilian independence and drawing inspiration from the medieval Sicilian Vespers.
Claim: At a autumn 1944 congress in Taormina, radical MIS members pushed for armed struggle, forming the Volunteer Army for the Independence of Sicily (EVIS); on 17 June 1945, its leader Antonio Canepa was killed in a clash with Italian Carabinieri near Randazzo, along with two companions, prompting the Italian government to deploy troops to the island.
Claim: The Statute of Sicily was issued by royal legislative decree of King Umberto II on 15 May 1946.
Claim: The Statute was converted into Constitutional Law No. 2 by the Italian Parliament on 26 February 1948, incorporating it into the Constitution of the Italian Republic.
Claim: The Statute grants Sicily exclusive legislative competence over areas including agriculture, fisheries, tourism, forestry, local authorities, cultural heritage and the environment, financial autonomy under which taxes collected in Sicily remain with the region, and the transfer of state property and assets other than those relating to national defence or services of national character.
Claim: At the 1947 Sicilian regional election, the MIS achieved its strongest result: 171,470 votes (8.8%) and eight or nine regional deputies.
Claim: The MIS lost momentum after the 1948 Italian general election, and following the 1951 Sicilian regional election its founder Andrea Finocchiaro Aprile and several other members resigned; the party entered a hiatus and, though never formally disbanded, ceased meaningful activity.
Claim: A new Movement for the Independence of Sicily, founded in 2004, presents itself as a separatist cultural movement seeking Sicilian independence from Italy, drawing on the legacy of the original 1943 MIS founded by Andrea Finocchiaro Aprile.