(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Voters in the northern Italian regions of Lombardy and Veneto cast their ballots in referendums yesterday 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% in Lombardy and just over 21% in Veneto.
The participation rate has to pass 50% 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 subsequent 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.
European Parliament chief Antonio Tajani took care yesterday 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% of its overall economic output.
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 €54bn more in taxes to Rome than it gets back in public spending.
Veneto's net contribution is €15.5bn.
The two regions would like to roughly halve those contributions a concession that 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.
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 that 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 €50mn in Lombardy and €14mn 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 11pm (2100 GMT).
MENAFN2210201700670000ID1095974163
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.