Venetian Most Serene Government
Encyclopedia
The Venetian Most Serene Government (Veneto Serenissimo Governo, VSG), whose members are often referred to as Serenissimi, is a political organization active in Veneto
, reclaiming independence and self-government for Venetian lands. It is a bulwark of Venetian nationalism.
In the early 1980s Luigi Faccia and Flavio Contin left Liga Veneta
, the mainstream regionalist party in Veneto, because the considered it too moderate. On 25 January 1987 Faccia and Contin launched the VSG. In 1992 the group was joined by Fausto Faccia, brother of Luigi, and, later, by Giuseppe Segato, who was appointed "ambassador" of the VSG. Since 1996 the group is protagonist of raids into the frequencies of RAI
, the Italian state owned public service
broadcaster
, in Veneto with separatist proclamations in Venetian language
.
During the night between 8 and 9 May 1997 the Serenissimi, "attacked" Piazza San Marco
and the St Mark's Campanile
in Venice in order to proclaim the "independence of Veneto". After eight hours barred in the Campanile, the Carabinieri
entered and arrested the group. The members of the group, including the two leaders of the Venetian Most Serene Government, Luigi Faccia and Giuseppe Segato, who did not take part to the action, were all jailed and processed. The effort, which was more symbolic than anything else, was criticized by Umberto Bossi
and Roberto Maroni
, leaders of Lega Nord, at that time proponents of the independence of Padania, while it was praised by Gianfranco Miglio
, a former senator of the League who was then elected as an independent for the centre-right Pole of Freedoms
.
The Serenissimi soon became a sort of "heroes" for many Venetists and the tank with which they reached Piazza San Marco on that night is usually an exhibit at the yearly Festa dei Veneti and at other rallies of that kind, also outside Veneto. Segato was a candidate of Liga Veneta Repubblica in the 2001 general election
and came short of election to the Italian Senate
, having received 9.8% of the vote in the constituency of Schio
. Representatives from most political parties in Veneto, including centre-left figures, defended the Serenissimi: Claudio Rizzato of the Democrats of the Left
even praised the "noble ideals" of the group, while Massimo Cacciari
and Green
Gianfranco Bettin
campaigned for the pardon to those in jail, along with Liga Veneta and the regional section of Forza Italia
. Some of them are not embarrassed in taking part to a rally, the Festa dei Veneti, in which the tanko is exposed. More recently also leading members of the League, including Bossi and Roberto Calderoli
, praised them and another leghista, Roberto Castelli
, when minister of Justice in 2003, proposed a pardon for Faccia who was still in jail, unsuccessfully as Faccia refused it.
The group is still active nowadays, under the leadership of Luca Peroni, and currently campaigns for a referendum on self-determination of Veneto.
Veneto
Veneto is one of the 20 regions of Italy. Its population is about 5 million, ranking 5th in Italy.Veneto had been for more than a millennium an independent state, the Republic of Venice, until it was eventually annexed by Italy in 1866 after brief Austrian and French rule...
, reclaiming independence and self-government for Venetian lands. It is a bulwark of Venetian nationalism.
In the early 1980s Luigi Faccia and Flavio Contin left Liga Veneta
Liga Veneta
Liga Veneta is a regionalist political party based in Veneto, combining Venetism and fiscal federalism. Liga Veneta is by far the largest party in Veneto and the party of Luca Zaia, President of Veneto since March 2010.It was the first party of its kind in Northern Italy, predating Umberto...
, the mainstream regionalist party in Veneto, because the considered it too moderate. On 25 January 1987 Faccia and Contin launched the VSG. In 1992 the group was joined by Fausto Faccia, brother of Luigi, and, later, by Giuseppe Segato, who was appointed "ambassador" of the VSG. Since 1996 the group is protagonist of raids into the frequencies of RAI
RAI
RAI — Radiotelevisione italiana S.p.A. known until 1954 as Radio Audizioni Italiane, is the Italian state owned public service broadcaster controlled by the Ministry of Economic Development. Rai is the biggest television company in Italy...
, the Italian state owned public service
Public broadcasting
Public broadcasting includes radio, television and other electronic media outlets whose primary mission is public service. Public broadcasters receive funding from diverse sources including license fees, individual contributions, public financing and commercial financing.Public broadcasting may be...
broadcaster
Broadcasting
Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and video content to a dispersed audience via any audio visual medium. Receiving parties may include the general public or a relatively large subset of thereof...
, in Veneto with separatist proclamations in Venetian language
Venetian language
Venetian or Venetan is a Romance language spoken as a native language by over two million people, mostly in the Veneto region of Italy, where of five million inhabitants almost all can understand it. It is sometimes spoken and often well understood outside Veneto, in Trentino, Friuli, Venezia...
.
During the night between 8 and 9 May 1997 the Serenissimi, "attacked" Piazza San Marco
Piazza San Marco
Piazza San Marco , is the principal public square of Venice, Italy, where it is generally known just as "the Piazza". All other urban spaces in the city are called "campi"...
and the St Mark's Campanile
St Mark's Campanile
St Mark's Campanile is the bell tower of St Mark's Basilica in Venice, Italy, located in the Piazza San Marco. It is one of the most recognizable symbols of the city....
in Venice in order to proclaim the "independence of Veneto". After eight hours barred in the Campanile, the Carabinieri
Carabinieri
The Carabinieri is the national gendarmerie of Italy, policing both military and civilian populations, and is a branch of the armed forces.-Early history:...
entered and arrested the group. The members of the group, including the two leaders of the Venetian Most Serene Government, Luigi Faccia and Giuseppe Segato, who did not take part to the action, were all jailed and processed. The effort, which was more symbolic than anything else, was criticized by Umberto Bossi
Umberto Bossi
Umberto Bossi is an Italian politician, leader of the Northern League, a party seeking autonomy or independence for Northern Italy. He is married to Manuela Marrone and has four sons ....
and Roberto Maroni
Roberto Maroni
Roberto Maroni is an Italian politician from Varese. He is a member of the Northern League political movement. Since 1992 he is a Member of the Chamber of Duputies of the Italian Republic, always elected in Lombardy's districts and costituencies...
, leaders of Lega Nord, at that time proponents of the independence of Padania, while it was praised by Gianfranco Miglio
Gianfranco Miglio
thumb|Gianfranco Miglio School Centre in [[Adro]].Gianfranco Miglio was an Italian jurist, political scientist and politician, founder of the Partito Federalista. For 30 years, he presided over the Political science Faculty of Milan's Università Cattolica...
, a former senator of the League who was then elected as an independent for the centre-right Pole of Freedoms
Pole of Freedoms
The Pole of Freedoms was a centre-right electoral alliance in Italy, launched at the 1994 general election by Silvio Berlusconi.The alliance was composed primarily of Forza Italia and the Lega Nord, but also included Christian Democratic Centre and the Union of the Centre...
.
The Serenissimi soon became a sort of "heroes" for many Venetists and the tank with which they reached Piazza San Marco on that night is usually an exhibit at the yearly Festa dei Veneti and at other rallies of that kind, also outside Veneto. Segato was a candidate of Liga Veneta Repubblica in the 2001 general election
Italian general election, 2001 (Veneto)
The Italian general election of 2001 took place on 13 May 2001. The election was won in Veneto by the centre-right House of Freedoms coalition, which won also nationally, by a landslide...
and came short of election to the Italian Senate
Italian Senate
The Senate of the Republic is the upper house of the Italian Parliament. It was established in its current form on 8 May 1948, but previously existed during the Kingdom of Italy as Senato del Regno , itself a continuation of the Senato Subalpino of Sardinia-Piedmont established on 8 May 1848...
, having received 9.8% of the vote in the constituency of Schio
Schio
Schio is a town and comune in the province of Vicenza situated North of Vicenza and East of the Lake of Garda. It is surrounded by the Little Dolomites and Mount Pasubio.-History:...
. Representatives from most political parties in Veneto, including centre-left figures, defended the Serenissimi: Claudio Rizzato of the Democrats of the Left
Democrats of the Left
The Democrats of the Left was a social-democratic Italian political party and part of the Olive Tree electoral coalition, which merged with a number of centrist and leftist groups to form the Democratic Party on 14 October 2007...
even praised the "noble ideals" of the group, while Massimo Cacciari
Massimo Cacciari
Massimo Cacciari is an Italian philosopher and politician.Born in Venice, Massimo Cacciari graduated in philosophy from the University of Padua , where he also received his doctorate, writing a thesis on Immanuel Kant's "Critique of Judgment." In 1985, he became professor of Aesthetics at the...
and Green
Federation of the Greens
The Federation of the Greens is a green political party in Italy, which includes also a large eco-socialist faction. Since 2009 the party leader is Angelo Bonelli.-Early years:...
Gianfranco Bettin
Gianfranco Bettin
Gianfranco Bettin is an Italian sociologist and long-time leader of the Greens in Veneto.During his career, he has been deputy mayor of Venice for Mestre and member of the Regional Council of Veneto...
campaigned for the pardon to those in jail, along with Liga Veneta and the regional section of Forza Italia
Forza Italia
Forza Italia was a liberal-conservative, Christian democratic, and liberal political party in Italy, with a large social democratic minority, that was led by Silvio Berlusconi, four times Prime Minister of Italy....
. Some of them are not embarrassed in taking part to a rally, the Festa dei Veneti, in which the tanko is exposed. More recently also leading members of the League, including Bossi and Roberto Calderoli
Roberto Calderoli
Roberto Calderoli is an Italian politician and a member of the Senate of Italy. He is currently a Minister without portfolio for Legislative Simplification in the Berlusconi IV Cabinet....
, praised them and another leghista, Roberto Castelli
Roberto Castelli
Roberto Castelli is an Italian politician. He was the Minister of Justice in the third Italian government of Silvio Berlusconi, he is a Senator and one of the main representatives of Lega Nord.- Career :...
, when minister of Justice in 2003, proposed a pardon for Faccia who was still in jail, unsuccessfully as Faccia refused it.
The group is still active nowadays, under the leadership of Luca Peroni, and currently campaigns for a referendum on self-determination of Veneto.
Sources
- Francesco Jori, Dalla Łiga alla Lega. Storia, movimenti, protagonisti, Marsilio, VeniceVeniceVenice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
2009 - Ezio Toffano, Short History of the Venetian Autonomism