Veneto President Luca Zaia yesterday said that "in light of what happened in Catalonia," a similar, non-binding referendum on the independence of Veneto is irreversible. According to Zaia, the outcome of the Catalan poll -in which 2.3 million voted despite Spain's Constitutional Court had ordered its suspension- is "exceptional," a "great political result" through which the Catalan people "gave a strong signal of freedom and democracy."

Zaia, who is a member of the Venetian League-Northern League, recalled that the Italian government does not to allow a non-binding vote on Veneto independence either, not even an alternative poll on enlarged autonomy. Zaia believes this is a "scandalous" attitude since it violates "the fundamental right of expression."

Veneto laws on both non-binding votes were challenged by the Italian government in August. The government of Veneto is collecting funds so that both polls can be held.