“Differentiated Autonomy”: The Italian Government from Meloni Wants now, that Voters MUST NOT VOTE

The italian cort of Cassation gave green light for a referendum on repeal. But the government and the parties from the far-right say now: “Those who believe in the reform do not go to vote.” The popular referendum for the total repeal of the law on differentiated autonomy remains standing, even after the Constitutional Court deecided that the planned reform, signed by the Minister Roberto Calderoli, is illegitimate.

This was decided by the Central Referendum Office of the Supreme Court in an order approved last Thursday, which “saved” the signature collection of unions and associations. Instead, the question on partial repeal, proposed by five regional councils with center-left majorities (Campania, Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, Sardinia, and Puglia), falls: According to the Supreme Court, in fact, the rules being challenged have already been effectively emptied by the sentemza.

Now the last word still rests with the Consulta, which will have to rule on the admissibility of the question: Article 75 of the Constitution, in fact, prohibits referendums on tax and budget laws, and the reform also rewrites the system of allocation of taxes between the state and the regions. After the Constitutional Court's decision, the government had argued that the vote should no longer be held.

Now the Supreme Court has said otherwise, and proponents and oppositions are rejoicing. “We want to completely repeal this unjust law, and from the Supreme Court comes an important confirmation that this referendum can be done”, says for example the vice-chairwoman of the “National Committee against Differentiated Autonomy”, the Uil Confederal Secretary Ivana Veronese.

For Christian Ferrari, the confederal secretary of the CGIL, “on a design of this magnitude, the highroad is a referendum that allows the electoral body to express its opinion. In our opinion, that law can still produce a lot of damage to the country's resilience and cohesion, further increasing social inequalities and territorial gaps, as well as jeopardizing the prospects of the entire Italian economy.”

And Pd secretary Elly Schlein calls the Cassation verdict “good news”: “After the Consulta's pronouncement that dismantled the reform, it would be necessary for the government to stop: it is the only way it can recover credibility. We will go forward in this battle.” For Green Party leader Angelo Bonelli, that of the Supreme Court is “an important decision against a law that increases inequalities between territories and weakens national unity.

The Constitutional Court, with its ruling, had already substantially demolished the Calderoli law on differentiated autonomy, going beyond expectations. Now the governent of Meloni fears not to have the majority in the vote. Her strategy now: Better to stay at home and not participate at the vote. In other words: Democracy is when we decide about what finally is democracy ...