Everything like before. The six provinces and the two metropolitan cities return to Sardinia. The Constitutional Court, which declared inadmissible the appeal presented last June by the Government against the law approved two months earlier by the Regional Council, put an end to the long run of the reform of local authorities, which went ahead with cancellations and reinstatements. A rule which brings the number of intermediate bodies to six (Nuoro, Gallura, Oristano, Ogliastra, Medio Campidano and Sulcis Iglesiente) and to two (Cagliari and Sassari) that of metropolitan cities.
A long mobilization
There is no doubt that the Provinces in Sardinia question is heard and starts from afar. Since the end of the 90s, when the mobilization for the establishment of new local authorities in the territories that have a certain affinity starts on the island.
The first regional norm
In fact, in 2001, after a long series of initiatives, the regional norm was approved with which the Provinces multiplied. Which then pass from the traditional 4, Cagliari, Oristano, Nuoro and Sassari to 8. With the new design come Medio Campidano, Sulcis Iglesiente, Ogliastra and Gallura. The activity of the four new Bodies begins with the first elections of 2005 and goes on for another round.
The Referendum repeals
Despite the activity of the Provinces, a new mobilization is growing this time, the objective of which is to cut the intermediate institutions. And on May 6, 2012 in Sardinia there is the consultative referendum on the “reorganization of the Provinces”. 35.5 percent of those entitled to vote. The referendum is still valid because the threshold of 33.3 per cent of the quorum is exceeded. Yes wins with 96.94 percent. The resignation and the commissioning of the Bodies follow.
Another way is sought: the new reform
In the meantime, with the intermediate bodies without political guidance but managed by commissioners, regulatory solutions are being sought. It was 2016 when the center-left-led regional administration launched the new rule for the reorganization of local authorities. In the new design, the provinces of Cagliari, Sulcis Iglesiente, Medio Campidano, Gallura and Ogliastra are suppressed. The “super” Province of Southern Sardinia is born whose territorial district corresponds to that of the Province of Cagliari (also includes Sulcis Iglesiente and Medio Campidano), excluding the municipalities belonging to the metropolitan city of Cagliari, the Provinces of Nuoro remain standing (which reappropriates Ogliastra), Oristano and Sassari (which takes back Gallura) and the Sassari underground network is born. The elections of the new bodies do not take place and the bodies are run by extraordinary administrators appointed by the Region.