[ Italy: Autonomy Referendums, 22 October 2017 ]: Venetian autonomy referendum, 2017 / Lombard autonomy referendum, 2017

Background
A self-organised 'referendum' calling for the independence of Venice was held in March 2014.

While in the past the Lega Nord (Northern League) had called for independence for Northern regions (sometimes in a area called Padania), in 2017 the separate referendums focused on greater autonomy for the regions, but within a united and federal Italy,

The referendums held in October 2017 in Veneto and Lombardia were seen as part of calls from various regions across Europe for more autonomy.
Separate non-binding referendums on the issue of more autonomy from Italy were held in the prosperous Italian regions of Veneto and Lombardia on the 22 October 2017.

Italian regions are allowed to negotiate with the national government for greater autonomous powers. Adjoining region Emilia-Romagna instigated this process on the 18 October 2017. Commentators suggested that the referendums were more of a political gesture by their Lega Nord leaders.

The results of the two referendums showed a big majority voting in favour of greater autonomy for their regions.

98% of ballots in Veneto were 'yes' votes. Turnout was 57%, 7% over the 50 percent threshold that the region had set for the result to be valid.

In Lombardy, the 'yes' votes won 95% of votes on a turnout of around 39%. There was no minimum turnout required.

• Primary Source

Deutsche Welle, 22.10.17: Will Italy's Lombardy and Veneto follow Catalonia? http://p.dw.com/p/2mEHg

BBC News, 22.10.17: Italy referendums: Lombardy and Veneto vote on greater autonomy http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-41712263

Blog: The Economist, 18.10.17: The Economist explains. How two local referendums might affect Italy’s future https://www.economist.com/blogs/economist-explains/2017/10/economist-explains-8

The Local.it, 20.10.17: A beginner’s guide to Italy’s autonomy referendums https://www.thelocal.it/20171020/italy-autonomy-referendum-guide-lombardy-veneto

Blog: Verfassungsblog, 21.10.17: Playing the Referendum Game in Northern Italy http://verfassungsblog.de/playing-the-referendum-game-in-northern-italy/

Wikipedia: Lombard autonomy referendum, 2017 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lombard_autonomy_referendum,_2017

ESO: Background information: Italy separatists unfazed by Scotland's 'no' (The |Local.it, et al, September 2014) http://www.europeansources.info/record/italy-separatists-unfazed-by-scotlands-no/

Blog: LSE EuroppBlog, 09.09.14: The ‘domino effect’ from Scotland’s referendum is increasing demands for independence in Italian regions http://bit.ly/1olB8wd

The Guardian, 22.10.17: Italian regions go to the polls in Europe's latest referendums on autonomy https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/20/italian-regions-go-to-the-polls-in-europes-latest-referendums-on-autonomy

Euro|Topics: Debates, October 2017: Lombardy and Veneto vote for more autonomy http://www.eurotopics.net/en/188133/lombardy-and-veneto-vote-for-more-autonomy

Deutsche Welle, 23.10.17: Lombardy, Veneto — Italy's two richest regions — vote for greater autonomy http://p.dw.com/p/2mJeR

EurActiv, 23.10.17: Italian regions vote in favour of autonomy in shadow of Catalonia crisis http://www.euractiv.com/section/elections/news/italian-regions-vote-in-favour-of-autonomy-in-shadow-of-catalonia-crisis/

EUObserver, 23.10.17: Italian regions demand autonomy from Rome https://euobserver.com/enlargement/139580

The Local.it, 23.10.17: Lombardy and Veneto vote yes to greater autonomy https://www.thelocal.it/20171023/lombardy-veneto-vote-yes-autonomy-referendum

---