Italy faces referendum crisis as Veneto and Lombardy hold vote for break away powers TODAY

The wealthy Italian regions account for at least 30 per cent of the country’s GDP and they will ask voters to take to the polls today to gain greater autonomy from Rome.

Analysts have likened the Italian referendum vote as being similar to that of Scotland’s independence vote from Britain, the UK’s decision to leave the European Union, and Catalonia’s quest for independence from Spain.

The votes were called by the two regional leaders, Roberto Maroni of Lombardy and Luca Zaia of Veneto. 

In Italy, the twin referendums are non-binding, but a resounding “yes” vote would give the presidents of the neighbouring regions more powers.

The powers would include leverage in negotiations to seek a greater share of tax revenue and to grab responsibility from Rome. 

The leaders want more powers in areas such as security, migration, education and the environment.

At least 50 per cent of the vote must be a yes for it to be granted.

Mr Maroni told CNN: “We aim to have enough power to break the resistance of the government.

“We want to manage the territory, manage the areas that handle migratory flows.”

Lombardy includes regions such as Milan and Veneto, where Venice is, and is home to a quarter of Italy’s population.

However, Lombard President Mr Maroni said that he would be happy with a 34 percent turnout among the region’s 7.5 million voters.

This would be equal to the national turnout in a 2001 constitutional referendum.

The Veneto autonomy drive dies if voter turnout is below 50 percent among the region’s 3.5 million voters.

Lombardy sends 54 billion euros more in taxes to Rome than it gets back in public spending. 

And Veneto’s net contribution is 15.5 billion, France 24 reports. Both regions want to claw back some of its money.

Both referendums are approved by Italy’s constitutional court – but they still stand as a powerful threat to Rome’s authority. 

Both regions are run by the anti-migrant, anti-Europe Northern League.

Also supporting the referendum is former Premier Silvio Berlusconi’s Forza Italia and the populist 5-Star Movement.

The votes – which are not a bid for independence but for more power could trigger other referendums in places like Liguria – home to the Riviera coastline.

Italy will stage a a national election next year, and today’s referendum is seen as providing a litmus test of how the nation feels.

The Democratic Party has asked its members not to vote.

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.”

The Italian constitution already grants varying levels of autonomy to five regions in recognition of their special status: the largely German-speaking Trentino-Alto Adige; the French-speaking Aosta; the islands of Sardinia and Sicily; and the region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia for its position on the border with then-Yugoslavia as a Cold War hedge.

However, critics argue that the non-binding vote carries no legal weight.