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138-567: The LV, whose ideology combines Venetian nationalism and support for fiscal federalism , was established in 1979 under the slogan "farther from Rome , closer to Europe ", and was the first party of its kind in northern Italy , predating Umberto Bossi 's Lega Lombarda by five years. The LV was one of the founding "national" sections of Lega Nord (LN) in 1991 and has been the regional section of Lega per Salvini Premier (LSP) in Veneto since 2020. Despite its long alignment with Lega Nord and Lega,

276-619: A provincial election Leonardo Muraro was elected President of the province of Treviso and the LV scored 29.2% (combined result of party list, 15.6%, and Zaia's personal list, 13.6%), despite a good result by the rival North-East Project (11.6%). In 2007 Tosi was elected mayor of Verona by a landslide (60.8% against the 33.9% of incumbent Paolo Zanotto ), while in the provincial election of Vicenza Attilio Schneck succeeded to Dal Lago as President (60.0%, largely ahead of her main challenger, Pietro Collareda , who stopped at 17.2%). Both Tosi, who

414-473: A "Tosi List". Furthermore, while Zaia, supported by Salvini, wanted to renovate the party's group in the Regional Council (in order to get rid of some of his ministers who happened to be tosiani ) and have a final say on the compilation of the party's slates, Tosi, who defended the position of long-time regional councillors and ministers, claimed his authority and the autonomy of the LV in relation to

552-602: A Demos&Pi poll taken in October 2014, 53% of Venetians favoured independence, thus making Veneto the most separatist region in Italy, followed by Sardinia (45%) and Sicily (44%). In March 2015 Demos&Pi found that 57% of Venetians (including 83% of Liga Veneta – Lega Nord 's voters) favoured independence. In 2012 Venetian Independence (IV), notably including Lodovico Pizzati , Gianluca Busato and Alessio Morosin , collected more than 20,000 signatures in support for

690-479: A February 2014 poll by Ixè, in a hypothetical referendum on independence, 47% of Venetians would vote yes and 26% no. According to a March 2014 poll by Ilvo Diamanti 's Demos&Pi, 55% of Venetians favoured independence, 39% opposed it and the remaining 6% did not answer. According to a similar poll conducted by Istituto Piepoli, 64% of Venetians would vote in favour of more autonomy with 19% against, and 51% would vote for independence with 32% against. According to

828-466: A MEP and former leader, was expelled from the party, of which he had been a member for 42 years, after having frequently criticised Salvini and finally offended him. In the 2024 European Parliament election the party was reduced to 13.2%. Liga Veneta was conceived by Franco Rocchetta and others in the late 1970s. During its first official meeting in Recoaro on 9 December 1979, Achille Tramarin , who

966-570: A Republican member of the Chamber of Deputies elected in Veneto, wrote that "the Venetian problem is so acute that from today on we will preach the rebellion of Venetians. Citizens, let's not pay taxes, not recognise the central government in Rome, chase away prefects, retain the money from direct taxes in Veneto". Shortly after Italico Corradino Cappellotto , a member of the Chamber of Deputies for

1104-555: A book titled 1866: la grande truffa , meaning "1866: the great swindle"), Sabino Acquaviva (who prefaced the book by Beggiato), Gian Paolo Gobbo , Fabrizio Comencini , Alessio Morosin , Fabio Padovan , Giorgio Lago , Flaminio De Poli , Giampaolo Borsetto , Ivone Cacciavillani , Manuela Dal Lago , Luca Zaia , Flavio Tosi , Giorgio Vido , Giorgio Panto , Lodovico Pizzati , Antonio Guadagnini , Patrik Riondato , Loris Palmerini , and, to some extent, Giancarlo Galan , Massimo Cacciari and Mario Rigoni Stern . In November 2009

1242-492: A broader support than Tosi and was unanimously chosen by the council. In the election Zaia was elected President of Veneto by a landslide, with 60.2% of the vote against 29.1% of his foremost opponent, Giuseppe Bortolussi of the Democratic Party (PD). The election was a triumph for the LV, which was by far the largest party in the region with 35.2% of the vote, up from 14.7% of five years before, and got 20 seats in

1380-533: A general election: with 10.1% of the vote, the party, present only in Northern Italy , became the fourth largest of the country. Comencini's Liga Veneta was the strongest national section of the League: it gained 29.3% of the vote in Veneto, 19 deputies and 9 senators, mostly elected in single-seat constituencies, in which the party, favoured by split-ticket voting , gained a total 32.8% of the vote. In 1994

1518-508: A mere 1.7% of the vote and no seats. In 1989–1990, ahead of the 1990 regional elections , the LV took part in the process of federating the northern regionalist parties, including the LL, Autonomist Piedmont , Ligurian Union , Emilia-Romagna League and Tuscan Alliance . In the 1990 regional election the LV and the UPV scored 5.9% and 1.9%, respectively. In the 1991 local elections, the UPV surpassed

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1656-471: A nation distinct from Italy and some refuse the validity of the result of the referendum through which Veneto (or, better, Venetia ) was united with Italy in 1866. Some of them have long proposed a re-edition of that referendum and campaign for the independence of Venetia , a country that would be composed of the territories of the historical Venetian Republic, covering Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia , and large chunks of Lombardy (the province of Brescia ,

1794-493: A national congress, Gianantonio Da Re , a long-time lighista from the province of Treviso, affiliate of Gobbo and now close to Zaia, was elected national secretary. Da Re's election represented a return to normality after the traumatic leadership and ousting of Tosi. Subsequently, Bitonci was appointed national president by the party's national council and, contextually, Fontana was appointed deputy federal secretary by Salvini. After Salvini's re-election as LN federal secretary in

1932-461: A non-partisan committee organised Plebiscito.eu , an online independence referendum , with no official recognition, for 16–21 March. P2013 had been launched by a group of splinters from IV, led by Lodovico Pizzati and Gianluca Busato, in July 2013. According to Plebiscito.eu' s staff, 2.36 million Venetians (63.2% of all eligible voters) participated in the online referendum and 89.1% of them (that

2070-470: A power struggle, Rocchetta won the battle for the party's leadership and Tramarin was replaced as national secretary by Marilena Marin , future wife of Rocchetta. Subsequently, Tramarin, while continuing to represent Liga Veneta in the Italian Parliament , was ousted from the party and formed Liga Veneta Serenissima , which proved to be a very unsuccessful political party, gaining only 0.2% of

2208-615: A referendum on independence and presented them to President Luca Zaia . Zaia informed the Regional Council and its President Clodovaldo Ruffato asked an opinion to the legal office, which explained that such a referendum was not legal under the Constitution of Italy . On 6 October IV organised a march in Venice, during which it proposed a resolution (44/2012) for a consultative referendum on independence to be approved by

2346-528: A separate party in January 2014 and welcomed a third councillor in February 2015. In the 2013 municipal elections the party lost the mayorship of Treviso after 19 years, as Giancarlo Gentilini surrendered to Democrat Giovanni Manildo 55.5% to 44.5%. However, one year later, in the 2014 municipal elections Bitonci was elected mayor of the much bigger city of Padua , a Democratic stronghold, by defeating

2484-463: A stronghold of the left, with Francesca Zaccariotto , and Belluno with Gianpaolo Bottacin . In December 2009 The People of Freedom (PdL) determined that the coalition candidate in the 2010 regional election would be a leghista . Subsequently, the national council of Liga Veneta nominated Zaia for President. Tosi, who, as party president, presided the council, tried to be himself the candidate, and others proposed instead Manzato. However, Zaia had

2622-461: A total of about 3,510,000 inhabitants, endorsed the bill. In February 2014 Liga Veneta–Lega Nord launched its own campaign for a referendum on independence. On 1 April 2014 a committee of the Regional Council put forward bills calling for a referendum on independence and on more autonomy for the region. The move was supported by the representatives of Liga Veneta, Forza Italia (the minority faction), New Centre-Right , Popular Future , Union of

2760-609: A writer and journalist, wrote: "Veneto is my fatherland. [...] Even if a Republic of Italy exists, this abstract idea is not my Fatherland [...]. We Venetians have travelled throughout the world, but our Fatherland, that for which we would fight if it were necessary to fight, is Veneto. [...] When I see "River sacred to the Fatherland" written on the bridges spanning the Piave , I am moved, not because I think of Italy, but rather because I think of Veneto." Most Venetists consider Veneto

2898-696: Is Raixe Venete (Venetian Roots), which organises every year the well-known Festa dei Veneti in Cittadella . The association has strong links with separatists from all over Europe and especially from the Basque Country . At the Festa dei Veneti , Venetists of every political colour, politicians of different political parties (including non-Venetist, both right and left), Venetist associations, actors, comedians, flag-wavers, musicians (notably including Herman Medrano ), rock bands, and many people meet at

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3036-527: Is Venetians Movement and was founded in 2006 by Patrik Riondato . Initially it presented itself as a cross-party political movement which aimed to promote independence in a democratic and nonviolent way. However, in 2010 it took part to the founding of the Party of the Venetians , a coalition of Venetist parties ranging from the centre-right to the far-left, which was later merged into Veneto State . Among

3174-514: Is inevitable that Veneto will organise by itself". In March 2016 President Zaia announced that he had written to Prime Minister Matteo Renzi in order to start the negotiation both on the organisation of the referendum on autonomy and the devolution of further powers to Veneto according to article 116 of the Constitution. Zaia proposed the referendum to be held on the very same day of the 2016 constitutional referendum (which would reduce

3312-512: Is less favoured. Recent polls show a rise of independentism. According to an opinion poll made in December 2011, 50% of Venetians support the independence of Veneto. More strikingly, an opinion poll published on Il Gazzettino in January 2012 put those favoring independence at 53.3% (with the support from foreign-born Venetians at 55.0%). According to the same pollster, the support for independence rose to 56.7% in January 2013. According to

3450-566: Is part of the Italian political system (Venetists, as Socialists , Communists , PD , PdL , etc.)". The Venetian Republic existed for 1100 years from 697 to 1797 (submitted to Byzantium until the 9th century), and was one of the first modern republics of the world. After defeating the Republic of Genoa in a series of wars , it became the most powerful Mediterranean maritime power, and at its height, extended its rule from large parts of

3588-563: Is to say 56.6% of all eligible voters) voted yes. This was enough for P2013 to proclaim Veneto's independence from Italy in Treviso on the night of 21 March. Voters approved also the adoption of the Euro (51.4% yes), EU membership (55.7% yes) and NATO membership (64.5% yes). The event was covered by several international media. During an interview with foreign journalists on 19 March, President Zaia announced that he too had voted (yes) in

3726-458: The 1983 general election , when it garnered 4.3% in Veneto, resulting in two elects to the Italian Parliament . The party suffered many splits in its first decade of life and became a large political force only after its federation with other regional leagues, notably including Umberto Bossi 's Lega Lombarda , which resulted in Lega Nord (LN) in 1991: in the 1996 general election , the party

3864-654: The 1992 general election , the LN scored 8.7% throughout Italy and the LV won 17.8% of the vote in Veneto and was second only to the DC, returning to the Chamber and the Senate after five years, this time with several elects. The UPV and the MVRA both won 1.5% of the vote, while Lega Autonomia Veneta (LAV), formed by the former Socialist mayor of Venice Mario Rigo , got 4.7% of the vote. The Venetist movement, divided as ever, however gained

4002-499: The 1999 provincial elections the party lost the provinces of Padua and Verona. By 2000 the party started to recover from the schism of 1998 and took 12.0% of the vote in the 2000 regional election (the combined score of Veneti d'Europa and Fronte Marco Polo , another split, was 3.7%), re-joining after five years the regional government. In the 2001 general election the LV won a mere 10.2% in Veneto, with 9 deputies and 4 senators elected, all in single-seat constituencies, thanks to

4140-456: The 2010 regional election the LV, in steady rise since 2001, was by far the largest party in the region with 35.2% of the vote, while its leader Luca Zaia was elected President of Veneto by a landslide 60.2%. The combined result of Venetist parties was 37.6%, the highest so far. In the 2015 regional election , the LV set another record by winning 40.9% of the vote (combined result of party list, 17.8%, and Zaia's personal list, 23.1%) and Zaia

4278-412: The 2011 provincial election of Treviso Muraro was easily re-elected president. The LV won 40.8% of the vote (combined result of party list, 29.6%, and Muraro's personal list, 11.4%), which was an 11.6% gain since the previous provincial election in 2006, but also a 7.7% loss from the 2010 regional election. In late 2011, after the fall of Berlusconi's government , Lega Nord abandoned the alliance with

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4416-505: The 2017 leadership election (with overwhelming support from Venetians, still grateful for Tosi's ousting), at the party's federal congress on 21 May 2017 three LV members (Fontana, Marcato and Erik Pretto ) were elected to the federal council. In the 2018 general election the party obtained 32.2% of the vote, its best result ever in a general election, and, under a new electoral law that had re-introduced single-seat constituencies, had 23 deputies (including Bitonci, who had been defeated in

4554-614: The Battle of Custoza (24 June) and on sea during the Battle of Lissa (20 July). Giuseppe Garibaldi 's Hunters of the Alps had some success against the Austrians at the Battle of Bezzecca (21 July), but the Italian government ordered Garibaldi to withdraw when Prussia and Austria concluded an armistice. With the Peace of Prague (23 August), Austria agreed to the incorporation of Venetia in

4692-482: The Constitution , but authorised an autonomy referendum , which took place on 22 October 2017: 57.2% of Venetians participated in the referendum and 98.1% voted "yes". Consequently, President of Veneto Luca Zaia started a negotiation with the Italian government. Although it usually refers to the whole Venetian autonomist movement, the term "Venetism" is sometimes used to identify specifically culture-oriented Venetists, hardline Venetists or those Venetists who refuse

4830-608: The Constitutional Court ruled the independence referendum out as contrary to the Constitution , but authorised one of the five autonomy referendums ("Do you want the Region of Veneto to be granted of further forms and special conditions of autonomy?"). The event was unique as the Court had previously rejected proposals for similar referendums brought forward by the Regional Council of Veneto. Plebiscite 2013 (P2013),

4968-637: The Corriere del Veneto , the regional edition of the Corriere della Sera in Veneto, published a broad overview of what it described as "Venetist galaxy". The newspaper counted around 20 notable Venetist organisations: along the four major Venetist parties of the time (Liga Veneta–Lega Nord, Liga Veneta Repubblica , North-East Project and Venetian National Party ), a large variety of minor political parties, movements, cultural associations and trade unions were listed. A prominent Venetist cultural association

5106-633: The Italian People's Party , launched the first Venetist party forth of the 1921 general election : the Lion of Saint Mark won 6.1% of the votes in the province of Treviso. After the takeover of Benito Mussolini , who among other things proposed to eradicate the local languages in favour of Italian language widespread, the rise of Fascism, World War II, and the birth of the Italian Republic , Venetist ideas lost ground, in an era in which

5244-587: The Italian Republican Party , and Italico Corradino Cappellotto , a member of the Chamber for the Italian People's Party who launched the first full-fledged Venetist party, Lion of Saint Mark , which obtained 6.1% of the vote in the province of Treviso in the 1921 general election . Venetist ideas made a comeback in the 1960s, when the Venetian Regionalist Autonomous Movement (MARV) campaigned for

5382-521: The Lombard Committee for Resolution 44 . After a hunger strike by two members of IV, in March 2013 Zaia and Ruffato implemented the first step mandated by resolution 44 by appointing the special commission of jurists who would examine the referendum issue. The commission was composed of six experts, including IV's Luca Azzano Cantarutti . On 2 April Stefano Valdegamberi , floor leader of

5520-722: The Padanian-Venetian Plain at the feet of the Venetian Prealps , the LV became the second largest party after then-dominant Christian Democracy (DC). This party would be mostly damaged from the rise of the LV as both parties concurred for the support of the middle class. DC regional leader Antonio Bisaglia had proposed a regional party modelled on the Christian Social Union in Bavaria , but opposition from Rome and his sudden death stopped

5658-708: The Po Valley to the coastal regions and islands of present-day Slovenia , Croatia , Bosnia and Herzegovina , Montenegro , Albania , and Greece . Venice was a leading power of the Western world in the 15th and 16th centuries. In 1797, after a long decline, through the Treaty of Campo Formio , Napoleon traded what remained of the Republic with Austria in exchange for other territories. In 1848, Venetians, led by Daniele Manin , rebelled against Austrian rule and established

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5796-558: The Radical Party , was officially signed by 14 founding members on 16 January 1980 in Padua and Achille Tramarin was elected national secretary. In December 1979, during the party's first informal congress, named "farther from Rome , closer to Europe ", the opening speech recited: "Today for Venetians the moment has come, after 113 years of Italian unitary colonisation, to take their natural and human resources back, to fight against

5934-614: The Republic of San Marco . Manin, who opposed the proposed unification by some Venetians with the Kingdom of Sardinia , resigned, but returned to lead again the opposition against Vienna in 1849. Venetian territories with the former Duchy of Mantua and Friuli were annexed to Italy in 1866, five years after the Italian unification and the creation of the Kingdom of Italy under the House of Savoy in 1861. The unification of Veneto with Italy

6072-455: The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic, which lasted eleven centuries from 697 to 1797, being one of the first modern republics of the world. After Veneto's annexation by Italy in 1866 and especially right after World War I calls for Venetian autonomy came from both left and right of the political spectrum. Early Venetists included Guido Bergamo , a member of the Chamber of Deputies for

6210-623: The Union of the Centre , who had abstained on Resolution 44 in November 2012, introduced a bill (342/2013) in order to call a referendum on independence by the end of the year. By 7 June the bill was endorsed by more than 15 regional councillors, sufficient to convene a special session of the Council on the issue. The Council discussed it on 30 July and 17 September, but in both cases no decision

6348-876: The Venetian National Liberation Movement (MLNV) led by Sergio Bortotto , the Venetian National Government of Gabriele De Pieri , and Self-Government of Venetia of Daniele Quaglia . On the cultural side, it is worth of mention the Milizia Veneta (Venetian Militia), in practice a corp of people who perform historic representations of the Venetian army (including flag-raising at the Festa dei Veneti ), Europa Veneta , Par San Marco and Veneti Eventi . Achille Tramarin Achille Tramarin ( Padua , 12 August 1946 - Padua, 29 June 2017)

6486-511: The plebiscite and leading historians suggest that the referendum in Venetia was held under military pressure, as a mere 0.01% of voters (69 out of more than 642,000 ballots) voted against the annexation and a mere 0.1% (567 ballots) was null, and that it was ultimately rigged . Some historians, who investigated into the historical archive of the Austrian foreign ministry, also suggest that

6624-463: The province of Bergamo , the area around Crema and a portion of the province of Mantua ). The proposal, regarding to Veneto alone, has more recently gained the support of Liga Veneta, the Government of Veneto , and the majority of the Regional Council of Veneto , which endorsed a bill aimed at organising the referendum in 2014. The Constitutional Court ruled that referendum out as contrary to

6762-518: The rally of Pontida . In the meantime, former leader Flavio Tosi , who had merged his Tosi List for Veneto into Forza Italia in June 2022 and had become that party's regional coordinator in March 2023, started wooing disgruntled LV members into Forza Italia: most notably, splinters have included former Vice President of Veneto Gianluca Forcolin , former senator Gianpaolo Vallardi and regional councillor Fabrizio Boron . In March 2024 Gianantonio Da Re ,

6900-579: The "myth of the indivisibility and the unity" of the country was strong even in Veneto. However, the campaign of Mussolini to eradicate regional languages was largely unsuccessful in the region, which soon became a stronghold of the Christian Democracy (DC) party due to the leading role of the Catholic Church in the region. In the 1948 general election Christian Democrats won 60.5% of the vote in Veneto. Since 1919, Venetia plus

7038-651: The Centre and North-East Union, with the opposition of the Democratic Party, Italy of Values and the Federation of the Left. The day after, all the floor leaders of the parties (but the federation of the left) represented in the council officially asked the Italian government to give Veneto the status of a special-statute autonomous region and fiscal autonomy. The final document was approved by Liga Veneta, Forza Italia (both fations), New Centre Right, Union of

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7176-440: The Centre, Italy of Values and North-East Union. On 10 June the Regional Council discussed and passed a law concerning five referendum questions concerning special autonomy. On 12 June the same legislative assembly passed Valdegamberi's bill 342/2013 in order to hold a referendum on the independence (question: "Do you want Veneto to become a sovereign and independent republic?") with 30 yeas, 12 nays and 3 abstentions. A year later

7314-615: The Council), and the other by Antonio Guadagnini . In April 2017 Zaia announced that the autonomy referendum would take place on 22 October, along with a similar referendum in Lombardy . 57.2% of Venetians participated in the referendum and 98.1% voted "yes". Consequently, President of Veneto Luca Zaia started a negotiation with the Italian government. Prominent Venetists have included Goffredo Parise , Franco Rocchetta (founder of Liga Veneta ), Ettore Beggiato (who wrote

7452-595: The Country", and appointed Dozzo commissioner for the LV. Consequently, Tosi decided to run for President against Zaia. Besides Baggio and Toscani, four more regional councillors (Stival, regional minister of Venetian Identity, and Giuseppe Stoppato , who formed, along with former Democrat Diego Bottacin , a group named " Toward North –Venetian People", Conte, regional minister of the Environment, and Andrea Bassi ), three deputies, three senators and Muraro (president of

7590-571: The EU should support the referendum and guarantee its result, a notion which was contradicted by the attitudes of EU institutions toward the 2014 Scottish referendum . In March an appeal by international academics in support of resolution 44 was issued. The declaration, promoted by Marco Bassani , was signed by Frank Van Dun , Hans-Hermann Hoppe , Donald Livingston , Ralph Raico , Xavier Sala-i-Martin , and Pascal Salin , along with Paolo Bernardini , Carlo Lottieri and Alessandro Vitale . According to

7728-467: The Kingdom of Italy. The same point was repeated in the Treaty of Vienna (12 October), achieved through the mediation of France. The Venetian territory was first ceded by Austria to France (under a treaty signed by General Karl Moering , on behalf of Franz Joseph I of Austria , and General Edmond Le Bœuf , on behalf of Napoleon III) as a compensation for French neutrality during the war. According to

7866-473: The LV and including Liga Veneta Repubblica —, the Party of Venetians , Venetian Left and Veneto for the Autonomies) obtained a further 4.1% of the vote. As a result, 34 out of 51 seats in the Regional Council were controlled by Venetists, 33 by LV members. While support for a federal system , as opposed to a centrally administered state, receives widespread consensus in Veneto, support for independence

8004-585: The LV gained 3.3% in Veneto, not enough to win any seats. In the 1985 regional election the party obtained 3.7% and two regional councillors: Ettore Beggiato and Rocchetta. Tramarin's LVS won a mere 0.2% of the vote and, since then, Rocchetta and Marin have had the party in their hands. That of the LVS was only one of several splits occurred over the decade. The first had been Giulio Pizzati 's Liga Federativa Veneta in 1983, while another occurred in 1987: some hardliners, led by Luigi Faccia and Flavio Contin , left

8142-472: The LV has been the "national" section of the LN in Veneto. Bossi was elected federal secretary and Rocchetta federal president. Thanks to the federal structure of the LN and to its ideology (according to which Padania is a country formed of different nations: Veneto, Lombardy , Piedmont , etc.), the LV retained much of its autonomy, but occasionally tensions occurred with "the Lombards", causing splits. In

8280-423: The LV has its ideological peculiarities and is seen as more centrist. In the 2010 regional election the LV was by far the largest party in Veneto with 35.2% of the vote and LV's Luca Zaia , who was supported also by The People of Freedom , was elected President of Veneto with 60.2%. In the 2015 regional election the LV, which fielded also a "Zaia list" improved its tally to 40.9% and Zaia, who counted also on

8418-458: The LV was also part of the regional government for the first time, with Gobbo as Vice President. In July 1994 Marin was replaced by Fabrizio Comencini as national secretary of the party, while Gobbo was elected national president. Shortly after, in September, Rocchetta and Marin left the party in disagreement with Bossi and the new Venetian leadership, founding Liga Nathion Veneta. Rocchetta

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8556-464: The LV was thus represented by the Treviso wing, which then started to gain influence, under the leadership of Gian Paolo Gobbo and Mauro Michielon . In the next elections, the LV and the UPV had similar showings. Rocchetta and Marin managed to forge an alliance with Umberto Bossi 's Lega Lombarda (LL) for the 1989 European Parliament election , Lega Lombarda – Alleanza Nord , in which the LV won

8694-516: The LV's national council elected Luca Baggio , an ally of Tosi, as national president. Zaia warned Tosi that if he were not to be a unifying leader a split might occur. On 1 July 2012 Maroni was elected federal secretary during a federal congress presided by Zaia. The Venetian delegates elected also four members to the federal council: Finozzi ( tosiano ), Bitonci (Venetist, anti-Tosi), Stival (Venetist, tosiano ) and Dal Lago (Venetist, independent). A few days later Maroni appointed Federico Caner , who

8832-512: The LV. Some attempts to merge the two parties into one failed, but from that point, thanks to the alliance with Bossi, LV's rise would be unstoppable. In February 1991, the LV finally was merged with the five parties of the LL–AN alliance and newly-formed parties in the northern autonomous regions and provinces (the future Lega Vallée d'Aoste , Lega Alto Adige Südtirol , Lega Trentino , Lega Friuli and Lega Trieste ) into Lega Nord (LN). Since then,

8970-568: The LVR gained 4.9%. As the latter faded, the LV returned to gain ground in the 2005 regional election , despite the meteoric success of North-East Project (PNE). More recently, a string of separatist parties, notably including Venetian Independence (IV), emerged. Both in 1992 and 2000 the Italian Constitutional Court rejected proposals for an autonomy referendum, brought forward by the Regional Council of Veneto . In

9108-432: The PdL. Perceiving that the party was entering a crisis, Giuseppe Covre (a former mayor of Oderzo and MP) and Marzio Favero (mayor of Montebelluna and philosopher) proposed a "Manifesto for the League which will be". In its call for a "cultural revolution" and for a bottom-up restructuring of the party, the document was interpreted as a call for a new leadership, both at national and federal level. All throughout 2011

9246-458: The Region and minister of Agriculture and Tosi minister of Health. In the 2006 general election however, the party scored 11.1% and got elected 5 deputies and 3 senators. It was the worst result in terms of elected members in the Italian Parliament since 1987, due to the narrow victory of the centre-left, which won the majority-premium for the Chamber of Deputies and to the presence of North-East Project (2.7%) and of Liga Fronte Veneto (0.7%). In

9384-498: The Regional Council, up from 11. Zaia was also the most voted President of Veneto since direct elections were introduced in 1995. After the election, Zaia appointed a cabinet including six party members, a majority of whom were tosiani : Roberto Ciambetti (Budget and Local Government), Luca Coletto (Health), Maurizio Conte (Environment), Marino Finozzi (Tourism and International Trade), Franco Manzato (Agriculture) and Daniele Stival (Venetian Identity and Civil Protection). In

9522-416: The Regional Council: the text of the resolution was given to Giovanni Furlanetto , LV regional councillor, who supported the proposition. Another Council member, Mariangelo Foggiato of North-East Union (UNE), officially presented the resolution in the Council. On 17 October a total of 42 regional councillors out of 60 officially asked a discussion on the issue. On 28 November the Council approved

9660-420: The alliance with Forza Italia and the New Centre-Right (the two parties emerged from the break-up of the PdL) and to reinforce it with the creation of a "Zaia List", Tosi wanted the party to run with the sole support of the "Zaia List" and a "Tosi List", while Matteo Salvini , who succeeded to Maroni as federal secretary in 2013, kept an open mind only on Forza Italia and opposed, along with Zaia, any notion of

9798-405: The alliance with Forza Italia within the House of Freedoms coalition. After the election, Dozzo and Stefani joined Berlusconi II Cabinet as undersecretaries of Agriculture and Industry, respectively. In the 2002 provincial elections the party won for the second time in a row in Vicenza and Treviso . The province of Treviso confirmed itself as the most- leghista province of Italy and Zaia

9936-404: The appeal, "the self-determination process" of Veneto "will be an important step toward a better Europe and men of goodwill have to do everything possible to ensure that the electoral process leading to the independence referendum takes place without tension and with respect for all the people involved". In Lombardy Bassani, Lottieri and several intellectuals around L'Indipendenza newspaper formed

10074-515: The beginning of September every year. In November 2009 Raixe Venete organised a demonstration in Venice in support of the teaching of Venetian in schools: a wide range of people took part, from Roberto Ciambetti , leader of Liga Veneta–Lega Nord in the Regional Council of Veneto , to Luca Casarini , a former far-left anti-globalisation activist and leader of the Tute Bianche in Veneto. The European Federalist Free Entrepreneurs (LIFE)

10212-407: The campaign and selection of candidates. Most provincial leaders resigned or were deposed by Tosi, who appointed loyalists. In April the national council of LV, led by Tosi, expelled 35 party members (mostly Venetists or old-guard bossiani ), including two regional councillors and a former deputy. In August the dissidents, led by Corrado Callegari , a former deputy, formed Veneto First , which became

10350-400: The concept of Padania , a proposed country by Lega Nord / Lega , of which Liga Veneta (the most successful Venetist party so far) has been the "national/regional" section in Veneto. Alberto Gardin , a pro-independence publisher and later self proclaimed 121st Doge who supports the boycott of Italian elections, offers another interpretation by considering "Venetism" a "partisan concept, that

10488-410: The corrupt and backward southern regions, was the key element, along with linguistic and historical claims, that led to the formation of Liga Veneta (LV) in January 1980. The opening speech of the first congress of the party in December 1979 recited: "Today for Venetians the moment has come, after 113 years of Italian unitary colonisation, to take their natural and human resources back, to fight against

10626-559: The corrupt and backward southern regions, was the key element, along with linguistic and historical claims, that led to the formation of Liga Veneta. Liga Veneta was promoted in 1978 by Franco Rocchetta , a Venetian philologist and president of the Venetian Philological Society who had been talking of a "Venetian league" since 1968. The party constitution, modelled on those of the Valdostan Union and

10764-537: The early 2017 municipal election in Padua ) and 9 senators elected. After months of negotiations, the LN formed a coalition government with the Five Star Movement (M5S), under Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte . Two LV members were appointed ministers in the government : Erika Stefani at Regional Affairs and Autonomies, and Lorenzo Fontana at Family and Disability. In the 2019 European Parliament election

10902-432: The economic and political situation in Veneto was critical, so that a former Prime Minister and native of Venice , Luigi Luzzatti , wrote to Prime Minister Vittorio Emanuele Orlando and told him there could be a "Venetian Ireland", in parallel to the simultaneous Irish War of Independence , while the prefect of Treviso signalled the risk that a separatist movement aimed at separating Veneto from Italy might flourish in

11040-700: The election, Zaia unveiled his second government , composed of ten ministers, including nine Lighisti : Gianluca Forcolin (Vice President, Budget and Local Government), Luca Coletto (Health and Social Programs), Roberto Marcato (Economic Development and Energy), Elisa De Berti (Publick Works, Infrastructures and Transports), Giuseppe Pan (Agriculture, Hunting and Fishing), Manuela Lanzarin (Social Affairs), Federico Caner (EU Programs, Tourism and International Trade), Gianpaolo Bottacin (Environment and Civil Protection) and Cristiano Corazzari (Culture, City Planning and Security); Elena Donazzan (Education and Labour) represented Forza Italia . In February 2015, during

11178-558: The faction around Tosi, close to Roberto Maroni at the federal level, won most provincial congresses in Veneto, including that of Treviso. In early April 2012 a corruption scandal hit the "magic circle" around Bossi, who resigned from federal secretary of Lega Nord after 21 years. This had consequences also in Veneto: a national congress was scheduled for 2–3 June 2012 and, after fourteen years on top, Gobbo decided to step down from secretary. Tosi, just re-elected mayor of Verona with 57.4% of

11316-528: The federal party. In early March the struggle between Tosi and Zaia–Salvini led the former to threaten a run in competition with Zaia in the regional election and Lega Nord's federal council to appoint Dozzo as a mediator between Tosi and Zaia. The internal clashes led three regional councillors to quit the party in the Regional Council: Vittorino Cenci joined Veneto First, while LV's president Baggio and Matteo Toscani launched

11454-445: The fourth time national secretary, while Tosi replaced Dal Lago as national president. Tosi appeared to be also the standard-bearer of the party in view of the 2010 regional election, along with Zaia. In the 2009 European Parliament election the LV confirmed its strength, by gaining 28.4% and three MEPs: Lorenzo Fontana , a rising star from Verona, Giancarlo Scottà and Mara Bizzotto . The party also won two more provinces, Venice ,

11592-439: The incumbent Ivo Rossi 53.5% to 46.5%. The party thus governed two of the three largest cities of Veneto, Verona and Padua. Finally, in the 2014 European Parliament election the LV gained 15.2% and two MEPs, Tosi (who showed his popular support once for all and was soon replaced by Fontana) and Bizzotto. In the run-up of the 2015 regional election the party was quite divided on alliances and strategies. Zaia wanted to continue

11730-493: The institution of the ordinary regions (including Veneto), prefigured by the Constitution of Italy . The ordinary regions were finally instituted in 1970. Since then, Veneto experienced a dramatic economic boom due to a new production model based on small enterprises. The high burden of taxes and bureaucracy, associated with the increasing frustration with the inefficient and overstaffed Italian government in Rome, that continued to channel northern taxes as massive development aid to

11868-571: The institution of the ordinary regions (including Veneto), prefigured by the Italian Constitution. The ordinary regions were finally instituted in 1970. Since the 1970s, Veneto experienced a dramatic economic boom due to a new production model based on small enterprises. The high burden of taxes and bureaucracy, associated with the increasing frustration with the inefficient and overstaffed Italian government in Rome, that continued to channel northern taxes as massive development aid to

12006-483: The laboratory for a form of strong and advanced federalism. [...] We cannot close our eyes in front of independentist risings. [...] The answer is dual: enhancing autonomy and improving the government's services". For his part, Zaia explained to Alfano the "legitimate request of Venetians" for autonomy and independence, and that "the issue of autonomy and the desire of independence of Venetians cannot be resolved with an aspirin", concluding that "if Rome continues to sleep, it

12144-466: The main victim of the rise of LV as both parties competed for the support of the middle class. He thus proposed the evolution of the DC into a regional party on the model of the Christian Social Union in Bavaria . In 1982, Bisaglia tellingly declared, "Veneto would be mature for a federalist state, but this state, centralist and bureaucratic [as it is], will never concede autonomy to my region". Opposition from Rome and Bisaglia's sudden death in 1984 stopped

12282-552: The newly annexed territories from Austria, which included Trentino and South Tyrol , were called the Three Venices ( Tre Venezie , whereof Triveneto ), meaning Venezia Euganea ( Veneto plus large chunks of Friuli ), Venezia Giulia (the eastern part of current Friuli-Venezia Giulia ) and Venezia Tridentina (Trentino and South Tyrol). However, under the Constitution of Italy adopted in 1948, only Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol and Friuli-Venezia Giulia were granted of

12420-410: The official language. Venetians, similarly to several other regional communities, largely rejected that and continued to use their own Venetian language , often dubbed as dialect. Linguistic nationalism soon started to be part of Venetian culture, and during the last decades of the 19th century, also some revolts against southern Italian bureaucrats occurred. After its incorporation to Italy, Venetia

12558-732: The party and launched the Venetian Most Serene Government , which would organise the St Mark's Campanile 's "assault" in 1997 (see Venetian nationalism ). However, the two most damaging splits were those of the Union of the Venetian People (UPV), formed by Beggiato (who was joined by Tramarin and Girardi) and that of the Veneto Autonomous Region Movement (MVRA). After the splits, the only counterweight to Rocchetta–Marin within

12696-425: The party in 1994 after a power struggle and has since become a bitter critic of his former colleagues in the name of pure Venetian nationalism , conceived the LV as a libertarian , secular and Europeanist party. The promotion the re-discovery the Republic of Venice 's heritage, traditions, culture, and especially Venetian language , and opposition to the displacement of Mafia inmates in Veneto were key goals of

12834-429: The party reached 49.9% of the vote. The regional election was, even more, a triumph for Zaia, who was re-elected for a third conservative term with 76.8% of the vote. Liga Veneta fielded three lists, including the official one, Zaia's personal list and the "Venetian Autonomy List" (comprising also Liga Veneta Repubblica ), which obtained 16.9%, 44.6% and 2.4%, respectively. The party, with 33 seats (plus one obtained by

12972-506: The party since its foundation. Venetian nationalism Venetian nationalism (also Venetism , from the Venetian / Italian name, venetismo ) is a nationalist , but primarily regionalist , political movement active mostly in Veneto , Italy , as well as in other parts of the former Republic of Venice . Generally speaking, Venetists promote the distinct Venetian identity and

13110-438: The party won the mayorship of Treviso with Giancarlo Gentilini , and a year later it gained control of three provinces: Padua with Renzo Sacco , Verona with Antonio Borghesi and Treviso with Giovanni Mazzonetto . In 1997 the party won also in the province of Vicenza with Manuela Dal Lago , while Luca Zaia was elected President of the province of Treviso, replacing Mazzonetto, in 1998 . Also in 1998 , Gentilini

13248-612: The party's old guard from the province of Treviso, emerged as an alternative opposition candidate. At the congress, outgoing federal commissioner Alberto Stefani , a loyalist of Salvini, was thus elected secretary with 64.3% of the vote against Manzato's 35.7%, possibly with Zaia's silent support. The congress' result did not silence internal critics, like regional minister Federico Caner and MEP Gianantonio Da Re , who opposed Salvini's focus on southern Italy and his perceived Euroscepticism. Additionally, Caner, along with his colleagues Gianpaolo Bottacin and Roberto Marcato, did not go on stage at

13386-477: The plan of a regional DC on the "Bavarian model". Giancarlo Galan , regional leader of Forza Italia and President of Veneto from 1995 to 2010, made a similar proposal in 2008, taking example mainly from the South Tyrolean People's Party , but his "Forza Veneto" remained just an idea. The LV, whose leader in the 1980s and early 1990s was Franco Rocchetta , made its main electoral debut in

13524-427: The plan. However, a few months later, a power struggle took place within the LV and the winner was Rocchetta, who had been behind the scenes up to that moment, but was disappointed for his missed election. Tramarin was replaced as national secretary by Marilena Marin , Rocchetta's future wife, and, expelled by Marin, would form the splinter Liga Veneta Serenissima (LVS) in 1984. In the 1984 European Parliament election

13662-447: The poll, promised that he would bring bill 342 again to the discussion of the Regional Council and explained that he would seek "total independence" for Veneto. On 28 April, during a visit in Veneto, Minister of Interior Angelino Alfano acknowledged that "there is a Venetian question, which will be central in the government's relation with regions". In reference to what he called "Agenda Veneto", he said: "We think that Veneto could be

13800-431: The pro-Tosi "Venetian Commitment". All three disagreed with a perceived party's rightward shift under Salvini, while Cenci contested also Tosi and the party's engagement in southern politics through Us with Salvini (NcS). After a long struggle between Tosi and Salvini, the latter acknowledged the former's relinquishment from party member, on the grounds that Tosi had refused to ditch his think tank, named "Let's Rebuild

13938-548: The province of Treviso . Precursors of the present-day Venetist movement date back to before World War II and were both left- and right-wing. In 1920 La Riscossa , a Venetian newspaper close to the Socialists and the Republicans , espoused the need for a "united elective governorate with autonomous and competent technical and administrative organs" as an alternative to the "central political rule" Guido Bergamo ,

14076-479: The province of Treviso), followed Tosi, while two factional leaders, Finozzi (regional minister of Tourism and International Trade) and Bizzotto MEP , chose not to. In the meantime, Venetian Agreement changed its name into " Tosi List for Veneto " (LTV). The election was a triumph for Zaia, who was re-elected with 50.1% of the vote, and Liga Veneta, which obtained 40.9% of the vote (combined result of official party list, 17.8%, and Zaia's personal list, 23.1%). Tosi and

14214-494: The rediscovery of the Republic of Venice's heritage, traditions, culture, and language and/or demand more autonomy or even independence for Veneto from Italy. According to journalist Paolo Possamai , Venetism is "the strain of Veneto and Venetians toward the recognition of their identity and autonomy". Venetism is a broad movement, which definitely includes Venetist parties, notably Liga Veneta , but also encompasses people from several political parties. In 1982 Goffredo Parise ,

14352-405: The referendum was a mere administrative affair to Italy, just to formalise the sovereignty on a territory already under its possession, and that no real choice nor free vote was granted to the local population. The plebiscite could have been a mere demonstration to gain legitimacy after the bad conduct of Italy during the so-called Third War of Independence. The Kingdom of Italy adopted Italian as

14490-492: The regions' powers—article 117, while expanding the powers that can be devolved to regions according to article 116 and creating a regionalised Senate), a notion deemed legally impossible by undersecretary Gianclaudio Bressa , and the negotiation started in May. According to an opinion poll taken in June, 78.5% of Venetians would take part to the autonomy referendum, 78.4% would vote yes, 3.5% no and 18.1% did not know. According to

14628-574: The resolution at the start of the session, while the entire group of the Democratic Party left the floor in protest, but proclaimed their support for a special statute for Veneto. The document required Zaia and Ruffato to urgently open talks with the European Union (EU) and the United Nations in order to come up with a referendum proposal that will establish the will of the Venetian people on its self-determination. To achieve this goal,

14766-497: The resolution, in which "independence" was replaced by " self-determination ", with 29 votes in favour, 2 against and 5 abstentions. Those in favour included Foggiato, LV's entire group, most councillors of The People of Freedom , Pietrangelo Pettenò of the Communist Refoundation Party – Federation of the Left , Diego Bottacin of Toward North and independent councillor Sandro Sandri , who had expounded

14904-415: The same poll, 70.7% of voters would participate also in the constitutional referendum, 41.3% would vote yes, 22.2% no and 36.5% did not know. Contextually, two bills calling for an independence referendum were introduced in the Regional Council, one by Liga Veneta's Marino Finozzi , Gabriele Michieletto , Alessandro Montagnoli and Luciano Sandonà , with the support of Roberto Ciambetti (President of

15042-401: The status of special-statute autonomous region and the connected special privileges, mainly including fiscal autonomy. Hence, the proposals by some groups of unifying Veneto with the two regions cited above (or with Trentino alone) or giving also Veneto an autonomous statute. Venetist ideas made a comeback in the 1960s, when the Venetian Regionalist Autonomous Movement (MARV) campaigned for

15180-467: The support of about a quarter of Venetian voters. In the 1994 general election the LV won 21.6% of the vote in Veneto (the LAV took 3.2%) and three of its members joined Berlusconi I Cabinet : Rocchetta was undersecretary of Foreign Affairs, Mariella Mazzetto of Education and Giovanni Meo Zilio (a former Socialist partisan during Italian resistance ), of University and Research. Between 1994 and 1995

15318-569: The support of some minor parties, was re-elected with 50.1%. In the 2020 regional election the LV's two lists improved again their tally to 61.5% and Zaia was re-elected by a landslide 76.8% of the vote. While Zaia is the party's leading figure, Alberto Stefani serves as secretary. Another leading member is Lorenzo Fontana , from the party's conservative wing, who has been the President of Italy's Chamber of Deputies since 2022. The origins of Venetian identity and Venetian nationalism lie in

15456-865: The third list), had thus far more than 50% of the seats in the Regional Council. After the election, Zaia unveiled his third government , composed of eight ministers, including seven Lighisti : Elisa De Berti (Vice President, Legal Affairs, Public Works, Infrastructures and Transports), Francesco Calzavara (Planning, Budget, Patrimony and Local Government), Manuela Lanzarin (Health, Social Affairs and Social Programs), Roberto Marcato (Economic Development, Energy and Special Status for Venice), Federico Caner (EU Programs, Agriculture, Tourism and International Trade), Gianpaolo Bottacin (Environment, Climate and Civil Protection), Cristiano Corazzari (Culture, City Planning, Security, Hunting and Fishing); Elena Donazzan (Education, Formation, Labour and Equal Opportunities) represented Brothers of Italy . LV's Roberto Ciambetti

15594-454: The treaty, France ceded Venetia to Italy "under the reservation of the consent of the people duly consulted". Whether an option other than becoming Italian was available was unclear, nor was the treaty any more precise on how to consult the people. Venetia was already under Italian control after the French government renounced to it on 19 October. This increases doubts on the real importance of

15732-549: The two Presidents would have benefited from the help of a special commission of jurists. On 10 January 2013 a delegation of IV submitted to the European Commission in Brussels a petition, signed by 50,000 European citizens, mainly Venetians, to endorse the referendum on self-determination. The collection of signatures for the petition was also supported by Domà Nunch in Lombardy . According to IV leaders,

15870-505: The two lists connected to the LTV won 11.9% and 7.1%, respectively, while other regionalist parties ( Independence We Veneto , Venetian Independence , North-East Union , Autonomous Veneto Project and Veneto Confederal State) gained another 6.3% in what was the best result ever for both Venetist parties, which controlled the majority of the Regional Council for the first time, and Liga Veneta itself, which obtained 24 seats out of 51 in it. After

16008-415: The vote (three times his closest opponent Michele Bertucco , who got a mere 22.8%), started his bid for the party's national leadership. Massimo Bitonci , a darling of Venetists and long-time rival of Tosi, was chosen as joint candidate by Venetists and Gobbo's loyalists. On 3 June 2012 Tosi was elected secretary with 57% of the vote (236 delegates out of 414), while Bitonci had 43% (178 delegates). On 9 June

16146-469: The vote. Consequently, a majority of regional councillors adhered, at least to some extent, to Venetism. In the 2020 regional election , the LV set one more record by winning 61.5% of the vote (combined result of party list, 16.9%, and Zaia's personal list, 44.6%) and Zaia was re-elected President by a landslide 76.8% of the vote, more than any other candidate in any other region of Italy. Minor Venetist lists and parties (Venetian Autonomy List — sponsored by

16284-494: The wild exploitation that has brought emigration, pollution and rooting out from their culture". In 1983 he was elected to the Italian Chamber of Deputies and thus became the first deputy of his party's history. Soon after the election Franco Rocchetta , who had been behind the scenes up to that moment and was disappointed by his missed election, hinted that Tramarin should step down from the post of party leader. After

16422-442: The wild exploitation that has brought emigration, pollution, and rooting out from their culture". European integration through the European Union (EU) was seen as an opportunity to give back to Veneto its autonomy. One of the regional leaders of Christian Democracy (DC), Antonio Bisaglia , early understood Veneto's demand of more autonomy and that his party, the dominant force in Venetian politics since 1946, would have been

16560-582: The wild exploitation that has brought emigration, pollution, and rooting out from their culture". European integration through the European Union (EU) was seen as an opportunity to give back to Veneto its autonomy. In the 1983 general election the LV gained 4.3% in Veneto: Tramarin was elected to the Chamber of Deputies and Graziano Girardi to the Senate . In the Pedemontana , the area of

16698-477: The youth, the strongest organisation is Independentist Youth , whose most representative figures are Giacomo Mirto and Stefano Danieli . Other six leading although small groups are the self-proclaimed Venetian Most Serene Government (VSG), whose main leaders include Luigi Faccia and late Bepin Segato , Self-Government of the Venetian People led by Loris Palmerini , Venetian State of Vittorio Selmo ,

16836-471: Was 35.4%. Subsequently, Zaia became minister of Agriculture and Martini undersecretary of Health in Berlusconi IV Cabinet . Federico Bricolo became floor leader of Lega Nord in the Senate. Zaia and Martini were thus replaced in the regional government by Franco Manzato and Sandro Sandri , respectively. In July 2008 the party held its national congress in Padua. Gobbo was re-elected for

16974-399: Was Veneto's largest with 29.3%. However, clashes between Bossi and hardcore Venetists led to several splits; in 1994, Rocchetta left in protest, but more damaging was the 1998 split led by Fabrizio Comencini and Alessio Morosin , who launched Liga Veneta Repubblica (LVR). As a result, in the 2001 general election , the LV garnered a mere 10.2% of the vote, its worst score since 1987, while

17112-411: Was also elected mayor of Treviso. In the 2005 regional election the LV gained 14.7% of the vote, despite the presence of other two Venetist parties ( North-East Project and Liga Fronte Veneto , 5.4% and 1.2% respectively), and was decisive for the third re-election of Giancarlo Galan as President of Veneto . After the election, the LV joined the third Galan government , with Zaia Vice President of

17250-467: Was an Italian Venetist politician. In 1978–1980 he took part to the foundation of Liga Veneta and in 1980 he was elected first national secretary of the party. During the party's first official meeting in Recoaro on 9 December 1979, Tramarin gave a famous speech titled Venetian Autonomy and Europe : "Today for Venetians the moment has come, after 113 years of Italian unitary colonization, to take their natural and human resources back, to fight against

17388-402: Was formed in 1994 by a group of Venetist entrepreneurs (Fabio Padovan, Diego Cancian , etc.) who opposed the "fiscal and bureaucratic oppression" of the "Venetian people" by Italy and demanded fiscal federalism and autonomy for the region. In particular, they decided to organise themselves as a trade union, saying that they were the most oppressed workers in Italy. Another notable association

17526-408: Was re-elected President of Veneto with 50.1% of the vote and a more coherently Venetist coalition. Separatist parties (Venetian Independence, Independence We Veneto and Veneto Confederal State) obtained 5.4% of the vote, while other regionalist and/or Venetist parties ( Tosi List for Veneto , LTV's sponsored Il Veneto del Fare list, North-East Union , and Autonomous Veneto Project ) another 8.0% of

17664-410: Was re-elected President of the Regional Council. In the 2022 general election the party was reduced to 14.5% of the vote (–17.7pp from 2018), fueling internal conflicts. In the run-up of the regional congress, to be held in June 2023, Roberto Marcato led the challenge of the party's traditional wing. However, Marcato retired from the race when Franco Manzato , a centrist figure representing mainly

17802-548: Was re-elected Provincial President with more than 40% in the first round and with almost 70% in the run-off, although he had refused the support of Lega Nord's allies in Rome and Venice, Forza Italia and National Alliance . Also in 2002 LV's Luciano Gasperini was elected federal president of Lega Nord. In a party congress in Vicenza , Gobbo was re-elected national secretary and Dal Lago was elected national president. In 2003 Gobbo

17940-416: Was re-elected mayor of Treviso. In 1998 Comencini left the party over disagreements with Bossi and formed a brand-new Venetist party named Liga Veneta Repubblica (then Veneti d'Europa ). Seven regional councillors out of nine followed Comencini into the new party, while Gobbo took over as national secretary of the LV, along with a new national president, Giuseppe Ceccato (who left the party in 1999). In

18078-409: Was replaced as regional minister of Health by Francesca Martini . In the 2008 general election the LV won a surprising 27.1% in Veneto, its best result since the 1996 election , getting 16 deputies and 7 senators elected. Meanwhile, Gobbo was re-elected mayor of Treviso with 50.4% of the vote, twice the score of his main opponent. The combined result of the LV and Giancarlo Gentilini's personal list

18216-410: Was replaced by Stefano Stefani , a leading member of the LV, as federal president of Lega Nord in February 1995. The exit of Rocchetta and Marin made possible the comeback of Beggiato into the party. Thanks to this the LV did not suffer a major setback in the 1995 regional election : 17.4% and 9 regional councillors elected. In the 1996 general election Bossi led Lega Nord to its strongest showing in

18354-541: Was so poor that millions of Venetians had to emigrate toward the Americas , especially Brazil and Argentina (three millions left their homeland from 1870 and 1910), without losing their heritage, so even today, many Venetian descendants in Latin America , most notably in two Brazilian southern states, Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina , speak Venetian as their mother tongue. Right after World War I ,

18492-497: Was supported by both Tosi and Gobbo, as his vicar. As early as in May 2013 Caner was replaced by Tosi. At the 2013 general election the LV stopped at 10.5%, almost a record low, resulting in just 5 deputies and 5 senators. Tosi considered this a consequence of the renewed alliance with the PdL (instrumental to Maroni's election as President of Lombardy ), while many party bigwigs, including Zaia, criticised his leadership, management of

18630-637: Was taken. On 5 April Castellavazzo , Belluno (mayor: Franco Roccon , The People of Freedom ) was the first municipality to pass a motion in support of bill 342. Since then, more than 180 comuni (out of 581), led by mayors of different parties and representing about 1,800,000 Venetians (out of approximately 4,860,000), expressed their support for it; they notably include Verona , Rovigo , Bassano del Grappa , Castelfranco Veneto , Vittorio Veneto , Arzignano , Legnago , Montebelluna , Jesolo , Montecchio Maggiore , Oderzo and Cittadella . Among provinces, Padua , Verona , Treviso and Venice , for

18768-608: Was the result of the Austro-Prussian War , won by the Prussians , Italy's allies. In the Italian unification process, the conflict is known as Third War of Independence . Austria lost Venetia, ceded to Napoleon III of France, who in turn ceded it to Italy. Austria refused to give Venetian territories directly to Italy because the Austrians had crushed the Italians during the war, defeating the Italians on land during

18906-632: Was the second leghista to become mayor of a big city after Marco Formentini in Milan between 1993 and 1997, and Schneck were supported by the House of Freedoms coalition, but the LV had an excellent result in both races: in Vicenza it garnered 19.0% of the vote, while in Verona it ranked first among the parties with 28.4% (combined score of party list, 12.0%, and Tosi's personal list, 16.4%). In June 2007, Tosi

19044-443: Was then elected secretary, gave a speech titled Venetian autonomy and Europe : "Today for Venetians the moment has come, after 113 years of Italian unitary colonisation, to take their natural and human resources back, to fight against the wild exploitation that brought poverty, emigration, pollution and uprooting from their culture". European integration was seen as an opportunity to give Veneto its autonomy back. Rocchetta, who left

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