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| Two Italian Regions Vote Overwhelmingly for More Autonomy | Two Italian Regions Vote Overwhelmingly for More Autonomy |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| ROME — The citizens of two northern Italian regions voted overwhelmingly on Sunday in favor of greater autonomy in closely watched referendums that come on the heels of Catalonia’s tortuous attempts to secede from Spain. | ROME — The citizens of two northern Italian regions voted overwhelmingly on Sunday in favor of greater autonomy in closely watched referendums that come on the heels of Catalonia’s tortuous attempts to secede from Spain. |
| The polls closed at 11 p.m. on Sunday, and with most votes counted by early Monday, the results in Lombardy and Veneto suggested that millions of voters had cast ballots to “give a message” to the central government in Rome, Luca Zaia, president of the Veneto region, said at a news conference. | The polls closed at 11 p.m. on Sunday, and with most votes counted by early Monday, the results in Lombardy and Veneto suggested that millions of voters had cast ballots to “give a message” to the central government in Rome, Luca Zaia, president of the Veneto region, said at a news conference. |
| The nonbinding referendums were promoted by the Northern League, which governs both regions, and the outcome will put the regional presidents on firmer footing as they begin negotiating with Rome for greater say — and financial independence — in a number of areas, including security and immigration and education. | |
| “This is the big bang” of institutional reforms, said Mr. Zaia in Veneto, where at least 60 percent of the population went to the polls, easily reaching the quorum of 50.1 percent. “In Veneto, what has won is the desire to be masters in our own home,” he said. | “This is the big bang” of institutional reforms, said Mr. Zaia in Veneto, where at least 60 percent of the population went to the polls, easily reaching the quorum of 50.1 percent. “In Veneto, what has won is the desire to be masters in our own home,” he said. |
| More than 98 percent of the more than two million people who went to the polls in Veneto voted in favor of autonomy, according to regional officials. | More than 98 percent of the more than two million people who went to the polls in Veneto voted in favor of autonomy, according to regional officials. |
| In Lombardy, about 40 percent of the electorate — some three million voters — went to the polls, but a quorum was not necessary. The region’s president, Roberto Maroni, said that more than 95 percent of Lombardy’s residents had voted in favor. | |
| “I am happy, I am very satisfied with how things went, and I realize that I now have a commitment that is equally important — which is to go to Rome and give concrete actualization to the mandate that millions of Lombards have given me,” he said. “To go to Rome and obtain, within the framework of national unity, greater jurisdiction, and more resources.” | “I am happy, I am very satisfied with how things went, and I realize that I now have a commitment that is equally important — which is to go to Rome and give concrete actualization to the mandate that millions of Lombards have given me,” he said. “To go to Rome and obtain, within the framework of national unity, greater jurisdiction, and more resources.” |
| Mr. Maroni also said he was satisfied with the way the vote had been carried out in Lombardy, which used electronic ballots via more than 24,000 tablets, a first in Italy. “This is a historic experimentation,” he said. | Mr. Maroni also said he was satisfied with the way the vote had been carried out in Lombardy, which used electronic ballots via more than 24,000 tablets, a first in Italy. “This is a historic experimentation,” he said. |
| Both regions, which are wealthy, are lobbying to have a greater say in how, and where, their taxes go, arguing that they give much more than they get back. Lombardy accounts for around 20 percent of the country’s economy, with Milan, the region’s main city, serving as Italy’s financial and fashion capital. The Veneto region accounts for about 10 percent. | |
| Though the Northern League harbored secessionist aspirations when it first emerged on the Italian political scene some three decades ago, the party has muted its tone, and the referendum was not a call for a break away from Italy. | Though the Northern League harbored secessionist aspirations when it first emerged on the Italian political scene some three decades ago, the party has muted its tone, and the referendum was not a call for a break away from Italy. |
| Both Mr. Zaia and Mr. Maroni emphasized that the vote was well within their constitutional rights. Five of Italy’s 20 regions — Val d’Aosta, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Trentino-Alto Adige, Sardinia and Sicily — already enjoy an “autonomous status” that gives them a greater degree of control over specific areas and funding. | |
| While the referendum was sponsored by the Northern League, it was backed by local leaders of varying political stripes. | While the referendum was sponsored by the Northern League, it was backed by local leaders of varying political stripes. |
| “I think this vote shows that a party of autonomy does not exist,” Mr. Zaia said. “What exists are Veneto residents who are in favor of this concept. Veneto residents are the winners.” The vote, he said, shows that reforms are possible “within the Constitution.” | “I think this vote shows that a party of autonomy does not exist,” Mr. Zaia said. “What exists are Veneto residents who are in favor of this concept. Veneto residents are the winners.” The vote, he said, shows that reforms are possible “within the Constitution.” |
| Critics of the referendums, which are estimated to have cost 40 million euro or more, say the regions could have initiated talks with the central government without the cost of holding a vote. The Emilia-Romagna region did so last week. | Critics of the referendums, which are estimated to have cost 40 million euro or more, say the regions could have initiated talks with the central government without the cost of holding a vote. The Emilia-Romagna region did so last week. |
| But Mr. Maroni and Mr. Zaia argued that past attempts to negotiate for greater independence had essentially been ignored by Rome, and that the popular backing would reinforce their bargaining powers. “Now the Veneto and Lombardy can join forces to fight the battle of the century,” Mr. Maroni said. | But Mr. Maroni and Mr. Zaia argued that past attempts to negotiate for greater independence had essentially been ignored by Rome, and that the popular backing would reinforce their bargaining powers. “Now the Veneto and Lombardy can join forces to fight the battle of the century,” Mr. Maroni said. |
| Some argued that allowing regions to demand autonomy based on a popular vote could open the floodgates. | Some argued that allowing regions to demand autonomy based on a popular vote could open the floodgates. |
| “You have to apply more objective criteria in granting autonomy, like a balanced budget,” said Paolo Balduzzi, an economist at Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Milan, who argued that a popular mandate should not be the determining factor. “The presidents of all the other regions could now ask for a referendum,” he said, “so it becomes useless.” | “You have to apply more objective criteria in granting autonomy, like a balanced budget,” said Paolo Balduzzi, an economist at Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Milan, who argued that a popular mandate should not be the determining factor. “The presidents of all the other regions could now ask for a referendum,” he said, “so it becomes useless.” |