Veneto State
Encyclopedia
Veneto State is a Venetist
independentist
political party active in Veneto
and eastern Lombardy
. The party seeks to achieve full political independence for the former territories of the Venetian Republic
from Italy
through a referendum. The party welcomes people from all political backgrounds, but its main ideology is liberalism
and it includes also a large number of libertarians
.
VS has a handful of municipal councillors, but it is not yet represented in any provincial council or in the Regional Council of Veneto
.
(Padua
) by the merger of the Venetian National Party
(PNV) and the Party of the Venetians
(PdV), that is two say the two main independentist parties in Veneto at the time (the largest Venetist party, Liga Veneta
–Lega Nord, was not overtly separatist). VS was joined also by many members of North-East Project
(PNE), in particular the majority of members from the provincial section of Padua, led by Umberto Cocco.
The congress, opened by the greetings sent by Eva Klotz (leader of South Tyrolean Freedom
) and by Gavino Sale (leader of Independence Republic of Sardinia
), was attended by Walter Kaswalder (president of the Trentino Tyrolean Autonomist Party
), Federico Simeoni (Friulian Front
) and Gianni Roversi (Independence Front Lombardy) and other guests. Lodovico Pizzati
, outgoing president of the PNV, was elected secretary of the new party, Giustino Cherubin (PdV) president and Gianluca Busato (PNV) treasurer. More important, the new party saw the participation of Venetist heavyweights such as Alessio Morosin
and Silvano Polo.
In November 2010 Antonio Guadagnini
, a former member of the Union of Christian and Centre Democrats and Liga Veneto Autonomo
, announced that he had joined the party and that he would stand as candidate for President of the Province of Treviso
in the 2011 provincial election. In the election Guadagnini won just 1.5% of the vote (+0.6% from the sum of PNV and PdV results in 2010
), and did better in the eastern part of the province (traditionally a stronghold of Liga Veneta–Lega Nord), and especially in Crespano del Grappa
(8.9%), Paderno del Grappa
(5.2%), Fonte
(4.9%) and Borso del Grappa
(3.6%), which was enough for the party to celebrate.
and the majority of those who had been members of the PNV like him (Gianluca Busato, Alessio Morosin
, Paolo Bernardini, Gianluca Panto, Claudio Ghiotto, Alessia Bellon, Luca Schenato).
Those behind Pizzati represented the libertarian and modernizing wing of the party, while those led by Riondato basically were more traditional Venetists, Christian and social democrats. There were, of course, also clashes over the form of party, the relations with other Venetist parties, groups and associations, and Pizzati's style of leadership (too centralistic according to his opponents). At some point, there was a real chance that three separate congresses would take place, one in Vicenza
, one in Treviso
and one in Cadoneghe
, and a split looked almost certain. Finally, on 13 October, an agreement was reached for 23 October in Vicenza.
Already on 7 October, Antonio Guadagnini
surprisingly declared he would challenge Pizzati's leadership and, a couple of days later, unveiled a tax plan which included the abolition of personal income tax and the introduction of a 50% tax on gains and savings. The proposal was labeled by his opponents as socialist. Soon after the agreement on the congress was reached, Morosin, close to Pizzati, declared he was running to become party president. Lucio Chiavegato, LIFE
activist and former member of the PNV, decided to run for president in ticket with Guadagnini instead. Pizzati and Morosin were endorsed by Busato, Bellon, Panto, most former PNV members and the provincial section of Brescia
, while Guadganini and Chiavegato had the support of most former PdV members and the provincial sections of Verona
, Vicenza
and Rovigo
. From outside of the party, Chiavegato was endorsed also by Fabio Padovan
, historic leader of LIFE and long-time Venetist, and by Flavio Faccia and Flavio Contin of the Venetian Most Serene Government
(Christian Contin de facto supported Morosin instead).
On 23 October the congress took place. The credentials of some delegates from Venice
and Brescia, all supporters of Pizzati, were refused and Polo, who presided over the assembly, refused some motions presented by Pizzati's supporters on the interpretation of the party's constitution. There was no vote on Pizzati, as he and his supporters expected, and it was not possible to present other candidates to party leadership. Subsequently, Guadagnini and Chiavegato were narrowly elected secretary and president of VS, respectively, Massimo Busato (another former PNV member now with Guadagnini) was elected treasurer, and the main organs of the party were filled by Guadagnini's supporters. Polo's conduct was heavily criticized by Pizzati's supporters, who felt the assembly was not democratic. A split eventually occurred as leading libertarians such as Ghiotto and Schenato decided to quit the party by the end of the day.
, but it was still riven with internal squabbles. On 15 November, after Guadagnini sacked him as party leader in the province of Padua
, Stefano Venturato formed an autonomous provincial group. Two days later, the entire provincial section of Brescia left in protest. On 18 November, the Council of Ten expelled Pizzati, G. Busato and Venturato. As a response, Pizzati, as "legal secretary", decided to call a new congress of the party on the grounds that the October congress had been not valid, and, in doing that, he was endorsed by some 100 members of the party. The move by Pizzati received the support of the sections of Treviso (north and south) and Brescia, Morosin and the group around Venturato.
On 26 November Chiavegato started to mediate between the two factions. The congress called by Pizzati will take place on 11 December.
Venetism
Venetian nationalism is an ideology and a regionalist movement demanding more autonomy, or even independence from Italy, for Veneto, and promoting the re-discovery the Republic of Venice's heritage, traditions, culture and language...
independentist
Separatism
Separatism is the advocacy of a state of cultural, ethnic, tribal, religious, racial, governmental or gender separation from the larger group. While it often refers to full political secession, separatist groups may seek nothing more than greater autonomy...
political party active in 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...
and eastern Lombardy
Lombardy
Lombardy is one of the 20 regions of Italy. The capital is Milan. One-sixth of Italy's population lives in Lombardy and about one fifth of Italy's GDP is produced in this region, making it the most populous and richest region in the country and one of the richest in the whole of Europe...
. The party seeks to achieve full political independence for the former territories of the Venetian Republic
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
from Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
through a referendum. The party welcomes people from all political backgrounds, but its main ideology is liberalism
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
and it includes also a large number of libertarians
Libertarianism
Libertarianism, in the strictest sense, is the political philosophy that holds individual liberty as the basic moral principle of society. In the broadest sense, it is any political philosophy which approximates this view...
.
VS has a handful of municipal councillors, but it is not yet represented in any provincial council or in the Regional Council of Veneto
Regional Council of Veneto
The Regional Council of Veneto is the regional parliament of Veneto.It was first elected in 1970, when the ordinary Regions were instituted, on the basis of the Constitution of Italy of 1948.-Composition:...
.
Foundation and first electoral participation
The party was founded on 12 September 2010 in CadonegheCadoneghe
Cadoneghe is a town and comune in the province of Padua, in the Veneto region of northern Italy. The town is approximately 50 from Venice, the capital of the region. The city is situated on the Brenta River....
(Padua
Province of Padua
The Province of Padua is a province in the Veneto region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Padua.-History and territory:...
) by the merger of the Venetian National Party
Venetian National Party
The Venetian National Party was a Venetist, libertarian and separatist political party active in Veneto, Lombardy and Friuli-Venezia Giulia...
(PNV) and the Party of the Venetians
Party of the Venetians
The Party of the Venetians was a Venetist-separatist coalition of parties active in Veneto.The alliance, which was formed in January 2010, after the disbandment of Veneto Freedom, was composed of five groups, which continued to be active as factions of Veneto State, since when the PdV was merged...
(PdV), that is two say the two main independentist parties in Veneto at the time (the largest Venetist party, 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...
–Lega Nord, was not overtly separatist). VS was joined also by many members of North-East Project
North-East Project
North-East Project is a Venetist, fiscal federalist and libertarian Italian political party based in Veneto, demanding larger autonomy, if not complete independence for the region.-History:...
(PNE), in particular the majority of members from the provincial section of Padua, led by Umberto Cocco.
The congress, opened by the greetings sent by Eva Klotz (leader of South Tyrolean Freedom
South Tyrolean Freedom
The South Tyrolean Freedom is a separatist German-speaking political party active in South Tyrol committed to the reunification of South Tyrol with the state of Tyrol within Austria....
) and by Gavino Sale (leader of Independence Republic of Sardinia
Independence Republic of Sardinia
Independence Republic of Sardinia is a social-democratic and non-violent separatist political party in Sardinia...
), was attended by Walter Kaswalder (president of the Trentino Tyrolean Autonomist Party
Trentino Tyrolean Autonomist Party
The Trentino Tyrolean Autonomist Party is a regionalist Christian-democratic Italian political party based in Trentino.-History:The party was founded in 1948 as Trentino Tyrolean People's Party . In 1982 a split between the conservative wing, led by Franco Tretter, and the centrist wing of the...
), Federico Simeoni (Friulian Front
Friulian Front
Friulian Front is a regionalist political party active in Friuli, Italy.Founded in 2006, the party strives for the total political, cultural and economic autonomy of Friuli in the context of the Mitteleuropean community, against the "political oppression", the "economic collapse", the "ethnic...
) and Gianni Roversi (Independence Front Lombardy) and other guests. Lodovico Pizzati
Lodovico Pizzati
Lodovico Pizzati is a Venetian independentist, economics professor and Venetist politician.Son of Giulio, one of the earliest members of Liga Veneta , Lodovico Pizzati has been a Venetist all throughout his life...
, outgoing president of the PNV, was elected secretary of the new party, Giustino Cherubin (PdV) president and Gianluca Busato (PNV) treasurer. More important, the new party saw the participation of Venetist heavyweights such as Alessio Morosin
Alessio Morosin
Alessio Morosin is a Venetian independentist, Venetist politician and lawyer.He joined Liga Veneta–Lega Nord in the early 1990s and was elected to the Regional Council of Veneto at the 1995 regional election. A fiery Venetist, he is known in Venetist circles as the author of resolution 42/1998...
and Silvano Polo.
In November 2010 Antonio Guadagnini
Antonio Guadagnini
Antonio Guadagnini is a Venetian independentist and Venetist politician.Guadagnini joined Christian Democracy in the 1980s and, after the party's dissolution, he joined centre-right Christian-democratic parties and, finally, the Union of Christian and Centre Democrats in 2002...
, a former member of the Union of Christian and Centre Democrats and Liga Veneto Autonomo
Liga Veneto Autonomo
Liga Veneto Autonomo is a Venetist political party active in Veneto.LFV was formed in early 2010 by senior members of Liga Veneta Repubblica , notably including Giorgio Vido and Bortolino Sartore, in the run up of the 2010 Venetian regional election...
, announced that he had joined the party and that he would stand as candidate for President of the Province of Treviso
Province of Treviso
The Province of Treviso is a province in the Veneto region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Treviso.The province has an area of 2,477 km², and a total population of 886.886 . There are 95 municipalities in the province .-Municipalities:-External links:*...
in the 2011 provincial election. In the election Guadagnini won just 1.5% of the vote (+0.6% from the sum of PNV and PdV results in 2010
Venetian regional election, 2010
The Venetian regional election of 2010 took place on 28–29 March 2010, as part of Italy's big round of regional elections.Luca Zaia, rising star of Liga Veneta–Lega Nord, was elected President by a landslide. With the support of 60.2% of Venetians, he was the most voted President of Veneto since...
), and did better in the eastern part of the province (traditionally a stronghold of Liga Veneta–Lega Nord), and especially in Crespano del Grappa
Crespano del Grappa
Crespano del Grappa is a city in the province of Treviso, Veneto region of Italy. As of 2007 Crespano del Grappa had an estimated population of 4,680.The sister city to Crespano del Grappa is Folsom, California in the USA....
(8.9%), Paderno del Grappa
Paderno del Grappa
Paderno del Grappa is a town and comune in the province of Treviso, in the Veneto, Italy. Paderno del Grappa is located at the base of Mount Grappa, a mountain located in the Dolomites...
(5.2%), Fonte
Fonte
Fonte is a comune in the Province of Treviso in the Italian region Veneto, located about 50 km northwest of Venice and about northwest of Treviso. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 5,731 and an area of 14.6 km²....
(4.9%) and Borso del Grappa
Borso del Grappa
Borso del Grappa is a commune with 4.935 inhabitants in the province of Treviso. As of 2007 Borso del Grappa had an estimated population of 5,463....
(3.6%), which was enough for the party to celebrate.
2011 congress in Vicenza
In the second half of 2011, VS started to rise in opinion surveys, with one poll putting it at 5% in Veneto. The party started to receive media coverage and its membership rose to 1,500 members by the end of September. However, the party experienced some internal infighting all over the summer which culminated in an early congress in October. One one side there was the group coming from the PdV (Patrik Riondato, Giustino Cherubin, Silvano Polo), on the other secretary Lodovico PizzatiLodovico Pizzati
Lodovico Pizzati is a Venetian independentist, economics professor and Venetist politician.Son of Giulio, one of the earliest members of Liga Veneta , Lodovico Pizzati has been a Venetist all throughout his life...
and the majority of those who had been members of the PNV like him (Gianluca Busato, Alessio Morosin
Alessio Morosin
Alessio Morosin is a Venetian independentist, Venetist politician and lawyer.He joined Liga Veneta–Lega Nord in the early 1990s and was elected to the Regional Council of Veneto at the 1995 regional election. A fiery Venetist, he is known in Venetist circles as the author of resolution 42/1998...
, Paolo Bernardini, Gianluca Panto, Claudio Ghiotto, Alessia Bellon, Luca Schenato).
Those behind Pizzati represented the libertarian and modernizing wing of the party, while those led by Riondato basically were more traditional Venetists, Christian and social democrats. There were, of course, also clashes over the form of party, the relations with other Venetist parties, groups and associations, and Pizzati's style of leadership (too centralistic according to his opponents). At some point, there was a real chance that three separate congresses would take place, one in Vicenza
Vicenza
Vicenza , a city in north-eastern Italy, is the capital of the eponymous province in the Veneto region, at the northern base of the Monte Berico, straddling the Bacchiglione...
, one in Treviso
Treviso
Treviso is a city and comune in Veneto, northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Treviso and the municipality has 82,854 inhabitants : some 3,000 live within the Venetian walls or in the historical and monumental center, some 80,000 live in the urban center proper, while the city...
and one in Cadoneghe
Cadoneghe
Cadoneghe is a town and comune in the province of Padua, in the Veneto region of northern Italy. The town is approximately 50 from Venice, the capital of the region. The city is situated on the Brenta River....
, and a split looked almost certain. Finally, on 13 October, an agreement was reached for 23 October in Vicenza.
Already on 7 October, Antonio Guadagnini
Antonio Guadagnini
Antonio Guadagnini is a Venetian independentist and Venetist politician.Guadagnini joined Christian Democracy in the 1980s and, after the party's dissolution, he joined centre-right Christian-democratic parties and, finally, the Union of Christian and Centre Democrats in 2002...
surprisingly declared he would challenge Pizzati's leadership and, a couple of days later, unveiled a tax plan which included the abolition of personal income tax and the introduction of a 50% tax on gains and savings. The proposal was labeled by his opponents as socialist. Soon after the agreement on the congress was reached, Morosin, close to Pizzati, declared he was running to become party president. Lucio Chiavegato, LIFE
European Federalist Free Entrepreneurs
The European Federalist Free Entrepreneurs - Entrepreneurs' Trade Union is an association of entrepreneurs based in Veneto, one of the regions of Italy....
activist and former member of the PNV, decided to run for president in ticket with Guadagnini instead. Pizzati and Morosin were endorsed by Busato, Bellon, Panto, most former PNV members and the provincial section of Brescia
Province of Brescia
The Province of Brescia is a Province in Lombardy, Italy. It borders with the province of Sondrio in the N and NW, the province of Bergamo in the W, province of Cremona in the SW and S, the province of Mantova to the S, and to the east, the province of Verona and Trentino .Source for statistical...
, while Guadganini and Chiavegato had the support of most former PdV members and the provincial sections of Verona
Province of Verona
The Province of Verona is a province in the Veneto region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Verona.-Overview:The province has an area of 3,109 km², and a total population of 912,981...
, Vicenza
Province of Vicenza
The Province of Vicenza is a province in the Veneto region of northern Italy. Its capital city is Vicenza.The province has an area of 2,723 km², and a total population of 840,000 . There are 121 comuni in the province...
and Rovigo
Province of Rovigo
The Province of Rovigo is a province in the Veneto region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Rovigo.It borders on the north with the provinces of Verona, Padua and Venice, on the south with the province of Ferrara, on the west with the province of Mantua, and on the eastwith the Adriatic Sea.-...
. From outside of the party, Chiavegato was endorsed also by Fabio Padovan
Fabio Padovan
Member of the Liga Veneta-Lega Nord, Fabio Padovan was deputy at the Italian Chamber of Deputies from 1992 to 1994 and leader of the European Federalist Free Entrepreneurs , an organization defending the little and medium-sized industries in Veneto....
, historic leader of LIFE and long-time Venetist, and by Flavio Faccia and Flavio Contin of the Venetian Most Serene Government
Venetian Most Serene Government
The Venetian Most Serene Government , whose members are often referred to as Serenissimi, is a political organization active in Veneto, reclaiming independence and self-government for Venetian lands...
(Christian Contin de facto supported Morosin instead).
On 23 October the congress took place. The credentials of some delegates from Venice
Province of Venice
The Province of Venice is a province in the Veneto region of northern Italy. Its capital is the city of Venice.It has an area of 2,467 km², and a total population of 829,418 . There are 44 comuni in the province . As of 2005, the main comuni by population are:-External links:* * : photos of...
and Brescia, all supporters of Pizzati, were refused and Polo, who presided over the assembly, refused some motions presented by Pizzati's supporters on the interpretation of the party's constitution. There was no vote on Pizzati, as he and his supporters expected, and it was not possible to present other candidates to party leadership. Subsequently, Guadagnini and Chiavegato were narrowly elected secretary and president of VS, respectively, Massimo Busato (another former PNV member now with Guadagnini) was elected treasurer, and the main organs of the party were filled by Guadagnini's supporters. Polo's conduct was heavily criticized by Pizzati's supporters, who felt the assembly was not democratic. A split eventually occurred as leading libertarians such as Ghiotto and Schenato decided to quit the party by the end of the day.
Toward the break-up of the party
In November VS received some national attention after its demonstration against Equitalia, the Italian revenue serviceRevenue service
A revenue service is a government agency responsible for the intake of government revenue, including taxes and sometimes non-tax revenue. Depending on the jurisdiction, revenue services may be charged with tax collection, investigation of tax evasion, or carrying out audits.-Revenue services by...
, but it was still riven with internal squabbles. On 15 November, after Guadagnini sacked him as party leader in the province of Padua
Province of Padua
The Province of Padua is a province in the Veneto region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Padua.-History and territory:...
, Stefano Venturato formed an autonomous provincial group. Two days later, the entire provincial section of Brescia left in protest. On 18 November, the Council of Ten expelled Pizzati, G. Busato and Venturato. As a response, Pizzati, as "legal secretary", decided to call a new congress of the party on the grounds that the October congress had been not valid, and, in doing that, he was endorsed by some 100 members of the party. The move by Pizzati received the support of the sections of Treviso (north and south) and Brescia, Morosin and the group around Venturato.
On 26 November Chiavegato started to mediate between the two factions. The congress called by Pizzati will take place on 11 December.
Leadership
- Secretary: Lodovico PizzatiLodovico PizzatiLodovico Pizzati is a Venetian independentist, economics professor and Venetist politician.Son of Giulio, one of the earliest members of Liga Veneta , Lodovico Pizzati has been a Venetist all throughout his life...
(2010–2011), Antonio GuadagniniAntonio GuadagniniAntonio Guadagnini is a Venetian independentist and Venetist politician.Guadagnini joined Christian Democracy in the 1980s and, after the party's dissolution, he joined centre-right Christian-democratic parties and, finally, the Union of Christian and Centre Democrats in 2002...
(2011–present) - President: Giustino Cherubin (2010–2011), Lucio Chiavegato (2011–present)
- Treasurer: Gianluca Busato (2010–2011), Massimo Busato (2011–present)