First Scotland, Then Catalonia. And Now? Milan and Venice
- 7 years ago
First Scotland, Then Catalonia. And Now? Milan and Venice
In a telephone interview, Stefano Bonaccini, president of the region, said of the Lombardy and Veneto votes: "A referendum carried out a few months before national elections
that asks voters whether they want autonomy is like asking them whether they like their mothers — because it is a legitimate and just request." But he added that those votes were "clearly an attempt" to drum up support for the Northern League.
"They talk about saving money, then spend millions." Calling it a "poll of the people," Mr. Maroni has defended the cost, including some €24 million for electronic tablets
that will be used for the vote — a first in Italy — and then donated to schools.
The one-question query that will be put to voters in this prosperous northern region of Italy on Sunday is whether they want their representatives
to negotiate with the central government in Rome on "particular conditions of autonomy," and on getting greater return on their taxes.
17, 2017
MILAN — Catalonia has been racked by sound and fury over a drive to secede from Spain,
but on a recent morning in Lombardy, which will vote on Sunday on whether to demand greater autonomy from Italy, the mood was distinctly more laid back.
"From the South Tyrol to Sicily, passing through Rome, there are separatist movements throughout Italy
that are rooted among some of the people who live there." Though Italy was formally unified 156 years ago, "it remains a complex nation," Mr. Rapisarda added.
Roberto Maroni said that The more people vote, the greater bargaining power I will have,
"It’s economic good sense." Though control of those sectors would give Lombardy substantial autonomy
and resources, Mr. Maroni has been careful to say that the vote would not undermine Italian unity.
In a telephone interview, Stefano Bonaccini, president of the region, said of the Lombardy and Veneto votes: "A referendum carried out a few months before national elections
that asks voters whether they want autonomy is like asking them whether they like their mothers — because it is a legitimate and just request." But he added that those votes were "clearly an attempt" to drum up support for the Northern League.
"They talk about saving money, then spend millions." Calling it a "poll of the people," Mr. Maroni has defended the cost, including some €24 million for electronic tablets
that will be used for the vote — a first in Italy — and then donated to schools.
The one-question query that will be put to voters in this prosperous northern region of Italy on Sunday is whether they want their representatives
to negotiate with the central government in Rome on "particular conditions of autonomy," and on getting greater return on their taxes.
17, 2017
MILAN — Catalonia has been racked by sound and fury over a drive to secede from Spain,
but on a recent morning in Lombardy, which will vote on Sunday on whether to demand greater autonomy from Italy, the mood was distinctly more laid back.
"From the South Tyrol to Sicily, passing through Rome, there are separatist movements throughout Italy
that are rooted among some of the people who live there." Though Italy was formally unified 156 years ago, "it remains a complex nation," Mr. Rapisarda added.
Roberto Maroni said that The more people vote, the greater bargaining power I will have,
"It’s economic good sense." Though control of those sectors would give Lombardy substantial autonomy
and resources, Mr. Maroni has been careful to say that the vote would not undermine Italian unity.