Following Catalonia’s calls for independence from Madrid, Rome is now facing the possibility of internal breaks as two regions back demands for more independence.
North-Eastern regions of Veneto and Lombardy held consultative referendums asking citizens whether they would support calls for autonomy from Rome.
Independence campaigner Franco Tonello told Al Jazeera: “The future is a Europe of many different people. We are not the only ones. Everyone has a right to decide its own administration.
“Our culture has been forgotten: our children are not taught the history of the Republic of Venice but a history that was never ours.”
Veneto saw 98 percent of voters support demands for further control on 23 issues devolved to Rome and 90 percent of tax revenue.
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Responding to critics, regional president Luca Zaia told national newspaper La Repubblica:”This referendum was not useless, it was not a joke. it wasn’t an easy game, we discussed it for weeks and months.
“There is no autonomy party, just Venetians who are in favour of this vision.”
Brussels has been facing growing turmoil as pro-independence and separatists movements have started to increase pressure on member states for further autonomy.
Contrary to Catalonia, the Italian referenda were held in compliance with the country’s Constitution but remain not binding on Rome.
Lombardy, home to financial hub Milan, accounts for about 20 percent of Italy’s economy which is, in turn, the Eurozone’s third largest.
While results in the region are yet to be confirmed, President Roberto Maroni said preliminary turnout was 40 per cent.
He said: ‘We can now write a new page. The regions that ask for more power will get it. I am talking about the power to discuss tax proceeds that normally go to Rome.”
In both Lombardy and Veneto, many complain their taxes are wasted by the central government, accusing Rome of delivering low-quality public services and diverting money to the poor south.
The two regions’ ruling Lega Nord party was established in the 1990s to campaign for an independent state of “Padania”, stretching across Italy’s north, from around Lombardy in the west to Venice in the east.
The ballots could fan regional tensions in Europe at a time when neighbouring Spain is trying to stop Catalonia from breaking away.