Pietro Bartolo Leaves democratic Party, Cites internal Divisions and Distrust
A respected voice on immigration and humanitarian issues, Pietro Bartolo, has announced his departure from Italy’s Democratic Party, citing deep-seated internal conflicts and a growing disconnect between the party leadership and the needs of local communities. The decision, revealed on December 31, 2025, follows Bartolo’s recent resignation from the party’s secretariat in Sicily.
Bartolo, born in 1956, brings a wealth of experience to his political endeavors.He served as a municipal councilor in Lampedusa and Linosa from 1988 to 2007, and held the position of deputy mayor and health councilor for the Municipality of Pelagie from 1988 to 1993. He joined the Democratic Party in March 2023, but has now concluded that the conditions for his continued membership no longer exist.
“A way of doing politics that has contributed to increasing the distrust of citizens,” Bartolo stated, expressing his disappointment with the current state of the party. He described a “quarrelsome party, divided and marked by an attitude of the regional establishment that is disrespectful” towards those genuinely committed to public service.
Bartolo has long been a staunch advocate for welcoming immigrants and asylum seekers, and for establishing humanitarian corridors to combat human trafficking. He lamented that the Democratic Party, despite its past roots in progressive values, has “progressively losing contact with the reality of local communities and with the concrete needs of people.” He characterized the party as increasingly “self-referential,” prioritizing internal power struggles over the collective good.
Despite this departure, Bartolo emphasized his continued commitment to political engagement. “This decision…far from representing a step backwards in my political commitment, it constitutes a further incentive for me to continue making my contribution to the service of the community,” he affirmed. he intends to honor the trust placed in him by voters in the recent European elections and to continue advocating for the issues he believes in.
Bartolo’s dedication to humanitarian work is notably notable for his role in responding to the devastating Lampedusa shipwreck of October 3, 2013, where a fishing boat carrying over 500 migrants capsized, resulting in the loss of 368 lives. From 1992 to 2019, he served as the health manager responsible for the initial medical assessments of migrants arriving on Lampedusa.
Looking ahead, Bartolo expressed a desire to contribute to building “a credible alternative to the right.” He intends to dedicate his energy to listening to communities and fostering a political habitat where diverse contributions are valued, rather than stifled by rigid systems. “I’ll do it in a new way,” he concluded, “in a context in which everyone’s contribution can be valorised, and not opposed becuase not willing to adapt to a system that has very little to do with the noble art of politics.”
Why did Pietro Bartolo leave the Democratic Party? Pietro Bartolo resigned from the Democratic Party due to internal divisions,a perceived disconnect between party leadership and local communities,and a growing distrust of citizens stemming from the party’s political practices. He felt the party had become “self-referential” and prioritized internal power struggles over addressing the needs of the people.
Who is Pietro Bartolo? Pietro Bartolo is a veteran Italian politician and humanitarian worker born in 1956. He previously served as a municipal councilor and health official in Lampedusa and Linosa. He is well-known for his decades of work providing medical assistance to migrants arriving on lampedusa, particularly his response to the 2013 Lampedusa shipwreck.
**What was Bartolo’s role in the
