Third term, Zaia is categorical: "The ministers of the League were right to vote against. A question of autonomy"
On the challenge to the Trentino law on mandates, Luca Zaia comments: "the ministers of the League were right not to vote in favor, given that it is not a question of political battle but a question of principle ." These are the statements of the president of Veneto during the last day of the festival of the regions in Venice. "It is a legal principle that we have the obligation to defend - he continues - given that we talk so much about autonomy, independence in front of a Province with autonomous statute, among other things sanctioned by the Constitution. The autonomous Province of Trento has established its number of mandates , and therefore it is a prerogative: the Constitutional Court also says so in the ruling on Campania".
Strong and clear words, in short, those of President Zaia in response to the government's challenge to the Trentino law , which allows the president of the autonomous province to serve a third consecutive term.
President Zaia reiterates: "It is a limitation of democracy. I am rooting for Fedriga and Fugatti because they defend a principle which is that of freedom". So much so that he expresses strong doubts about the outcome of the challenge to the Trentino law: " I am convinced that the Constitutional Court would have a lot of difficulty in ruling in favour of the government" . And on Sunday evening, in the Legni room of Palazzo Balbi, the governors tried to reach an agreement on a joint document regarding the third mandate. However, there were too many internal disagreements, and a softer text was reached, in which "an in-depth analysis" is hoped for.
Thus, Veneto, which was counting on the Constitutional Court (with the challenge of the Campania law) to allow the governor to run for a fourth term (the first would be excluded by the rule introduced later), now finds itself in a difficult position, squeezed between two "autonomous" neighbors . And furthermore, in an election year already marked by much tension between Fdl and Lega over the selection of the center-right candidate for the next regional elections, it becomes impossible not to wonder whether the intensification of conflicts between allies will also influence the choice of Zaia's successor in Veneto.
For his part, the regional councilor for Development, Roberto Marcato, commented on the incident as follows: "An absolutely unacceptable decision to challenge the Trentino law. The secretary should decide what to do at this point, but from what is happening these days, with today's decision on Trentino, the slap in the face to Fedriga on the third mandate in Friuli-Venezia Giulia and the disappearance of Autonomy from the political agenda of FdI and FI, I believe that a serious and in-depth internal reflection within the League is necessary and urgent on whether it is the case to remain in government".
Furthermore, the situation continues to heat up with further and more incisive statements by President Zaia, according to whom with the Government's challenge the Trentino question does not remain a local problem, as Salvini claimed, but it becomes "a national problem, given that we are in a dimension where the number of mandates is decided locally".
"I imagine - added Zaia - that the Court cannot contradict itself, given that with the Campania ruling we are going in the direction of saying that it is written in black and white that the Regions with special statutes can determine the number of their mandates and those with ordinary statutes cannot".
Then, the President continues: " I think that we no longer have to have the legal debate regarding the Constitution, now let's do autonomy . President Mattarella always reminds us of Title V of the Constitution which says that Italy is one and indivisible and that it recognizes and promotes autonomies . This is to say that the President is the guarantor of the Constitution, proof of which is that the Constitutional Court has expressed itself three times: with our referendum in 2015, agreeing with us, and agreeing with the Government on the Calderoli law by not repealing it, and then the referendum against the Calderoli law".
Finally, among the numerous statements made by President Luca Zaia on the last day of the Festival delle Regioni in Venice, which took place today, May 20, the absence of President Meloni in Venice was also addressed.
"He warned me yesterday, he probably had some difficulties like all of us. I wouldn't give any other content, we are not made of iron. Personally I have an excellent relationship with President Meloni, I think she is doing an excellent job especially on the foreign policy front. We are having a moment of renaissance as Italy that is unique, it's been years since we saw Italy in the front row".
Affari Italiani
