Venice to rally for independence from Italy
RT.com
06 October, 2012
A mass rally is to be held on Saturday, calling for the region’s independence from Rome. A large majority of Venetians support the move as financial burdens from central government bite.
Indipendenza Veneta, a pro-independence movement, says it expects several thousand to attend the rally in the center of the city.
Recent surveys show that support for independence amongst locals is high and those in favor want a referendum. A poll conducted in September by Italian national newspaper, Corriere della Sera, found 80% wanted to separate from Rome.
A more recent poll by Il Gazzetino, a local newspaper, found a lower but still high level of support at 70%.
The Venetian province is wealthier than many others in Italy and many resent having to pay the bills for the rest of the country.
The lagoon city is following on the heels of European independence movements in Scotland and Catalonia. Both regions have strong separatist movements that believe they would be better off as small independent countries.
Indipendenza Veneta said in statement that the economic crisis is hitting the region hard.
Venice has a history of disagreements with the central government in Rome.
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