Only a fifth of eligible voters at the ballot box. More votes and more Yes votes in the historic city and islands. Fewer than 45,000 out of 206,533 people voted on Sunday, December 1, 2019, in the Referendum for the separation of Venice and Mestre. The quorum is the lowest in history: 21.73%. In 2003, … More Referendum: 21.7% voter turnout ends bid for autonomy

November 30, 2019 As I write the campaign for the Referendum in Venice has ended, and one day remains before the vote. The past few weeks have seen an extraordinary effort to provide information from all sides of the issue. Many different groups and organizations in both Venice and Mestre hosted events with prominent supporters … More Intense campaign for Referendum ends with eight public debates in two weeks

[Ed. Note: what follows is an open letter to an online news journal, written by local activists, regarding information suppression in advance of the Referendum vote on 1 December] 23 Nov. 2019 Letter to the Director The date of the referendum is approaching, and the Mayor, contra legem, has called for abstaining from the vote. … More The Referendum: Silence and Intimidation.

This post is dedicated to Mario Rigo, former Mayor of Venice (1975 – 1985) and early supporter of Venetian autonomy, who passed away earlier today. An active supporter of separation until his passing, Mr. Rigo was scheduled to appear at a citizens’ meeting about the referendum to be held at Ateneo Veneto on Nov. 24. … More Guide to the Referendum for the separation of Venice and Mestre

The Regional administration’s decision surprises the promoters. It will be necessary to reach a quorum of 50% plus 1 By Alberto Vitucci 27 September 2019 The referendum for administrative autonomy for Venice and Mestre will take place on 1 December. This was the decision of the Regional government led by Luca Zaia. The announcement was … More Vote on Referendum will be held 1 December

The Council of State has declared the referendum legitimate, reversing the decision by the Veneto TAR of 14 August 2018. The Movement for Autonomy: “The consultation will be set by Zaia for December” 18 September 2019 The Council of State has declared that the referendum on the division of Venice and Mestre into two autonomous … More Referendum on division of Venice and Mestre into two autonomous Municipalities ruled legitimate

The decision was announced by Regional Vice-President Forcolin during the Tuesday meeting of the Regional Administration. Mayor Brugnaro: “We will verify the legitimacy” VENEZIA. There is an official date. Next September 30 will be the day of the referendum for the citizens of the City of Venice, to vote on the request for the separation … More Date set for Referendum for the separation of Venice and Mestre: “We vote September 30”

The announcement: a decision at the next Regional Assembly Venezia. In about a week the Region will set the date for the referendum regarding the separation of Venezia and Mestre. So said President Luca Zaia, who made this promise yesterday: “This is a commitment that we have undertaken, a fulfillment of the wishes of the … More Separation Referendum, Zaia ready with the date: “We will do it this Autumn”

While the way seems clear for the referendum to separate Venice and Mestre to be held in conjunction with the referendum for Veneto autonomy (on 22 October 2017), political forces led by Luigi Brugnaro and Renato Brunetta are working hard to ensure that the effort fails. Not content with challenges in the courts, these forces … More Separation of Venice and Mestre: a former City Council member decries “inaccuracy and lies” from the opposition

“It is necessary then to give Venice the administrative and fiscal tools that are ‘specific’, recognizing the rank of “City”, as it was for centuries, and not that restrictive rank of “historic center”, the tourist quarter of a larger urban nucleus that extends outside of the banks of the lagoon.” Separation of Venezia – Mestre, … More Referendum supporters appeal to Italian President Mattarella: Brugnaro is trying to prevent what Venice needs most – autonomy