Wealthy Italian regions vote to break away from Roman control

The passage of a pair of referendums seeking greater autonomy for two wealthy regions in Italy was “a lesson in democracy for Europe,” the head of Italy’s right-wing Northern League party has said.

Voters in the neighbouring Lombardy and Veneto regions overwhelmingly supported ballot measures on Sunday that ask the regions to acquire more power from Rome.

The peaceful votes reflect the same drive for greater selfdetermination that has been conflict-rid den in Spain’ s party leader Salvin is aid.

The presidents of the two wealthy northern regions had earlier claimed victory in autonomy referendums that seek to grab additional powers and tax revenue from Rome.

The votes were non-binding, but the leaders of the neigh-break bouring regions hope to leverage the strong turnout in talks with Italy’s centre-left government.

As leading members of the anti-migrant, anti-eu Northern League, they want to keep more tax revenue and have autonomy over policy areas such as immigration, security, education and environment.

“Five-and-a-half million citizens yesterday chose to vote, which tells us that there is high hope for the future in Italy,” Mr Salvini, whose party controls both regions, said.

“The reforms start from the bottom, notwithstanding vested interests.”

Regional leaders are seeking to take over government functions including education, immigration, security and the environment, as well as retaining more tax revenue.

Unlike the 1 October independence vote in Catalonia, the non-binding Lombardy and Veneto referendums did not ask voters if they want to away from Italy. The Italian measures were also approved by Italy’s constitutional court, whereas Cat “we alan leaders went forward with their referendum after Spain’s Constitutional Court had ordered it suspended.

chose a peaceful, legitimate path,” Mr Salvini said.

In Veneto, 98 per cent of voters supported the referendum. The Yes vote received 96 per cent backing in Lombardy.

The presidents of the highly productive regions, which account for 30 per cent of Italy’s gross domestic product (GDP), hope to leverage the resounding yes votes to open autonomy negotiations with premier Paolo Gentiloni.

The drives are based largely on views the government in Rome is inefficient and that money from the north is siphoned off to subsidise the south.

The populist Five Star Movement and former premier Silvio Berlusconi’s Forza Italia party supported the referendums. Critics said they carry no legal weight.

Members of Mr Gentiloni’s government have already signalled that fiscal autonomy would not be on the table during any future discussions.