This is an idea of the Northern League, to which the governors of these two rich areas of the Italian North also belong. Citizens will be asked if they wish to increase (within the framework of an autonomy that respects the national unity of Italy), the responsibilities of the two regions in areas such as culture, education, civil and criminal justice. The referendum (organized by the specific regions) does not directly address the issue of tax autonomy, which, under the Constitution, is the sole responsibility of the Italian state.
Although the prevalence of "yes" is considered a given (the League is in favor of "limited autonomy", Berlusconi's Forta Italia, the Five Stars and the center-left mayor of Milan), this whole initiative has provoked a series of political controversies. .
Clashes broke out between the far-right Italian Brotherhood and the Northern League in the Conservative party. The head of the Italian Brothers, Georgia Meloni, said the move was propagandistic and made it clear that if she had stayed in Milan or Venice, she would not have gone to the polls. Lombardy Regional Governor and Lega executive Roberto Maroni responded that the statements were "wrong and very serious" and added that the alliance of the League with the "Brothers of Italy" should most likely be reconsidered on a pan-Italian level. . An alliance that, however, shows that it can lead in cooperation with Forta Italia of the "former Cavaliere".
As for the center-left, the official position of the Democratic Party is that this expression of popular will could have been avoided, because it is extremely costly. Negotiations could normally begin with the Gentiloni government. However, the mayor of Milan, Bebe Sala, who was elected with the center-left, openly states that on October 22 he will vote "yes" to autonomy. In this case, the personal interest of the party discipline prevails, since Sala - after the position of mayor - aims at the chair of the governor of Lombardy.
Finally, according to a response from the Athens News Agency, there are disagreements and tensions within the Five Star Movement. In the Lombardy regional council, his vote in favor of the referendum proposal was decisive, so that it could indeed be organized.
The "five stars" emphasize that they have limited some overly selfish separatist sentiments and at the same time that they have imposed the electronic vote, which will be used for the first time in the entire region with Milan as its capital. But a significant portion of Grillo's voter base is clearly unhappy. Because he believes, in particular, that in a country hit hard by the economic crisis, there is no need at this time for moves that will benefit its richest regions and that can make the rich richer and poorer in Lower Italy even more isolated.
Source: Newsbeast.gr