Ignazio Messina was born in Palermo on 24 July 1964, from a family of magistrates and University professors.

[1] In 1998 he joined Italy of Values, party led by the former magistrate Antonio Di Pietro.

In 1999 his mandate as Mayor was interrupted by a motion of distrust approved by the City Council; Leoluca Orlando held a meeting to defend Messina and accused the city councilors of collusion with the mafia: for that event Orlando was condemned, with a final sentence, for defamation.

In 2013 he joined the political alliance Civil Revolution for the 2013 election, but RC did not reach the minimum threshold and Messina lost his seat.

In June 2013 he was elected National Secretary of the IdV replacing the outgoing leader Antonio Di Pietro.