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Italy regions vote on autonomy bid

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Voters in the northern Italian regions of Lombardy and Veneto were voting Sunday in referendums on autonomy, against the backdrop of Catalonia's push for independence from Spain.

The consultative votes are only the beginning of a process which could over time lead to powers being devolved from Rome.

Secessionist sentiment in the two wealthy regions is restricted to fringe groups with little following.

Nonetheless, with both regions expected to vote in favour of the principle of greater autonomy, analysts see the referendums as reflecting the pressures that resulted in Scotland's narrowly-defeated independence vote, Britain's decision to leave the EU and the Catalan crisis.

At midday (1000 GMT) voter turnout -- which will have a critical bearing on the significance of the results -- stood at 10 percent in Lombardy and just over 21 percent in Veneto.

Voters in Lombardy and Veneto are being asked to vote Yes or No for greater autonomy
Voters in Lombardy and Veneto are being asked to vote Yes or No for greater autonomy
ANDREA PATTARO, AFP

The participation rate has to pass 50 percent in Veneto for the result to be considered valid. There is no threshold in Lombardy but a low turnout would weaken the region's hand in any subseque negotiations with the central government.

"I'm happy that thousands, I hope millions, of voters in Veneto and Lombardy are asking for closer and more effective politics with less bureaucracy and waste," said Matteo Salvini, leader of the Northern League which had pushed for the referendums.

- New powers -

Map of the European Union showing the main movements for regional autonomy or independence
Map of the European Union showing the main movements for regional autonomy or independence
Paz PIZARRO, AFP/File

European Parliament chief Antonio Tajani on Sunday took care to distinguish between Catalan's chaotic independence referendum, deemed illegal by Madrid, and the votes in Italy.

"First of all these two referendums are legitimate, that was not the case in Catalonia," he told the Rome daily Il Messaggero.

"In Spain, it is not about autonomy, but a proclamation of independence in defiance of the rule of law and against the Spanish constitution."

He said Europe should "fear" the spread of small nations: "It is not by degrading nationhood that we reinforce Europe."

Lombardy, which includes Milan, and Veneto, which houses Venice, are home to around a quarter of Italy's population and account for 30 percent of its overall economic output.

Strong voter turnout will be needed to strengthen the hand of the regional government in talks with ...
Strong voter turnout will be needed to strengthen the hand of the regional government in talks with Rome if the Yes vote carries the day.
MIGUEL MEDINA, AFP/File

With dynamic economies and lower unemployment and welfare costs than the Italian average, both regions are large net contributors to a central state widely regarded as inefficient at best.

"Our taxes should be spent here, not in Sicily," says Giuseppe Colonna, an 84-year-old Venetian.

Fiscal rebalancing will be a top priority for Veneto president Luca Zaia and his Lombardy counterpart Roberto Maroni if the votes go their way.

Lombardy sends 54 billion euros more in taxes to Rome than it gets back in public spending. Veneto's net contribution is 15.5 billion euros.

The two regions would like to roughly halve those contributions -- a concession the cash-strapped state, labouring under a mountain of debt, can ill afford.

The two regional presidents, both members of the far-right Northern League, plan to ask for more powers over infrastructure, the environment, health and education.

They also want new ones relating to security issues and immigration -- steps which would require changes to the constitution.

- Domino effect -

In Venice  almost everyone seems to be planning to vote for greater autonomy in Sunday's consul...
In Venice, almost everyone seems to be planning to vote for greater autonomy in Sunday's consultative referendum
MIGUEL MEDINA, AFP/File

The referendums could have a domino effect -- a similar autonomy vote is being debated in Liguria, the region that includes the Riviera coastline, and Emilia Romagna, another wealthy industrial part of the country, is already trying to negotiate more devolved powers.

Economist Lorenzo Codogno said Italian unity is not under threat but added: "The issue is likely to spread, and eventually, it will require a generalised approach by the next government and a reform of the constitution."

Although the referendums have been driven by the Northern League, which has long abandoned its secessionist principles, the Yes campaign is backed by most of the centre right and sections of the centre left.

Milan's mayor Giuseppe Sala, a member of the ruling Democratic Party, says greater self-rule "is an idea shared by everyone, not one that belongs to the League".

A substantial body of opinion regards the votes as unnecessary extravagances, at a cost of 50 million euros in Lombardy and 14 million euros in Veneto.

In a first for Italy, voting in Lombardy is being conducted on computer tablets, raising the cost of the ballot, but it should ensure an early result after polls close at 11 pm (2100 GMT).

Voters in the northern Italian regions of Lombardy and Veneto were voting Sunday in referendums on autonomy, against the backdrop of Catalonia’s push for independence from Spain.

The consultative votes are only the beginning of a process which could over time lead to powers being devolved from Rome.

Secessionist sentiment in the two wealthy regions is restricted to fringe groups with little following.

Nonetheless, with both regions expected to vote in favour of the principle of greater autonomy, analysts see the referendums as reflecting the pressures that resulted in Scotland’s narrowly-defeated independence vote, Britain’s decision to leave the EU and the Catalan crisis.

At midday (1000 GMT) voter turnout — which will have a critical bearing on the significance of the results — stood at 10 percent in Lombardy and just over 21 percent in Veneto.

Voters in Lombardy and Veneto are being asked to vote Yes or No for greater autonomy

Voters in Lombardy and Veneto are being asked to vote Yes or No for greater autonomy
ANDREA PATTARO, AFP

The participation rate has to pass 50 percent in Veneto for the result to be considered valid. There is no threshold in Lombardy but a low turnout would weaken the region’s hand in any subseque negotiations with the central government.

“I’m happy that thousands, I hope millions, of voters in Veneto and Lombardy are asking for closer and more effective politics with less bureaucracy and waste,” said Matteo Salvini, leader of the Northern League which had pushed for the referendums.

– New powers –

Map of the European Union showing the main movements for regional autonomy or independence

Map of the European Union showing the main movements for regional autonomy or independence
Paz PIZARRO, AFP/File

European Parliament chief Antonio Tajani on Sunday took care to distinguish between Catalan’s chaotic independence referendum, deemed illegal by Madrid, and the votes in Italy.

“First of all these two referendums are legitimate, that was not the case in Catalonia,” he told the Rome daily Il Messaggero.

“In Spain, it is not about autonomy, but a proclamation of independence in defiance of the rule of law and against the Spanish constitution.”

He said Europe should “fear” the spread of small nations: “It is not by degrading nationhood that we reinforce Europe.”

Lombardy, which includes Milan, and Veneto, which houses Venice, are home to around a quarter of Italy’s population and account for 30 percent of its overall economic output.

Strong voter turnout will be needed to strengthen the hand of the regional government in talks with ...

Strong voter turnout will be needed to strengthen the hand of the regional government in talks with Rome if the Yes vote carries the day.
MIGUEL MEDINA, AFP/File

With dynamic economies and lower unemployment and welfare costs than the Italian average, both regions are large net contributors to a central state widely regarded as inefficient at best.

“Our taxes should be spent here, not in Sicily,” says Giuseppe Colonna, an 84-year-old Venetian.

Fiscal rebalancing will be a top priority for Veneto president Luca Zaia and his Lombardy counterpart Roberto Maroni if the votes go their way.

Lombardy sends 54 billion euros more in taxes to Rome than it gets back in public spending. Veneto’s net contribution is 15.5 billion euros.

The two regions would like to roughly halve those contributions — a concession the cash-strapped state, labouring under a mountain of debt, can ill afford.

The two regional presidents, both members of the far-right Northern League, plan to ask for more powers over infrastructure, the environment, health and education.

They also want new ones relating to security issues and immigration — steps which would require changes to the constitution.

– Domino effect –

In Venice  almost everyone seems to be planning to vote for greater autonomy in Sunday's consul...

In Venice, almost everyone seems to be planning to vote for greater autonomy in Sunday's consultative referendum
MIGUEL MEDINA, AFP/File

The referendums could have a domino effect — a similar autonomy vote is being debated in Liguria, the region that includes the Riviera coastline, and Emilia Romagna, another wealthy industrial part of the country, is already trying to negotiate more devolved powers.

Economist Lorenzo Codogno said Italian unity is not under threat but added: “The issue is likely to spread, and eventually, it will require a generalised approach by the next government and a reform of the constitution.”

Although the referendums have been driven by the Northern League, which has long abandoned its secessionist principles, the Yes campaign is backed by most of the centre right and sections of the centre left.

Milan’s mayor Giuseppe Sala, a member of the ruling Democratic Party, says greater self-rule “is an idea shared by everyone, not one that belongs to the League”.

A substantial body of opinion regards the votes as unnecessary extravagances, at a cost of 50 million euros in Lombardy and 14 million euros in Veneto.

In a first for Italy, voting in Lombardy is being conducted on computer tablets, raising the cost of the ballot, but it should ensure an early result after polls close at 11 pm (2100 GMT).

AFP
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With 2,400 staff representing 100 different nationalities, AFP covers the world as a leading global news agency. AFP provides fast, comprehensive and verified coverage of the issues affecting our daily lives.

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