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20,000 signatures ask for a referendum on independence in Veneto

Secessionist party argues that opinion polls show a majority support for secession · Veneto president admits that "yes" vote would win by a large margin, but he recalls that there are no legal conditions to declare independence

Only two weeks after 13,000 signatures were submitted so that Sardinia holds a referendum on independence, it is Veneto's turn. Venetian Independence party delivered yesterday 20,000 signatures to the President of Veneto, Luca Zaia, asking for a referendum on secession to be held. Venice lost its sovereign status in 1797, when it was occupied by Napoleon.

The promoters of the signatures campaign say that, according to a recent poll, 53% of the people of Veneto would vote "yes" to secession. The signature collection, Venetian Independence party said, "has a historical value".

Luca Zaia: now is not the time

What does Luca Zaia think about this? The president of the Veneto (leader of the Venetian League, one of the founders of the Northern League, which in theory advocates for the independence of all territories in northern Italy under a federal Padan republic) considers that "the issue of independence is interesting and touches us closely." He said this a couple of months ago in an interview to Antenna 3 North East, and he added: "53% [the figure showed by the opinion poll] seems little to me. I think that [the Venetians who want to secede] are many more".

However, does this mean that Zaia would be willing to lead the way to secession? Not really. "Technically we can collect signatures", he said, "but we have no legal support" to leave Italy. When the journalist suggested that Zaia could call a consultative referendum, Zaia said it was not worth the effort only to know the opinion of the people. If the referendum was ever called, he said, Veneto should be really able to declare independence if people chose so.

(Image: Luca Zaia receiving signatures from delegates of Venetian Independence party. Picture by independenzaveneta.net)