ITA | ENG WHO WE ARE ACTIVITIES CONTACTS POLICYAPP RADAR SWG COMMUNITY POLITICAPP | 6 October 2017 The referendums on autonomy Referendum on autonomy: the doubts of the Italians The referendums on regional autonomy held in Lombardy and Veneto appeal to locals, but they leave the Italians rather cold. The citizens of the North and the center-right voters are more convincing, while the remaining part of the electoral body is placed in positions of greater distance. Observed from the different corners of the country, the decision to call referendums for autonomy leaves the relative majority of public opinion perplexed. 54% consider the two consultations to be of little use, while a substantial minority (34%) are in favor of the call to the polls. The data, of course, is unevenly distributed across the territory. The analysis of these dynamics does not concern the voters of Lombardy and Veneto, who are personally involved in the issue, but it is a useful observation point to grasp what happens in public opinion of the realities not dragged by the referendum process. More convinced of the need for the two consultations are the center-right voters (55% of Lega voters and 54% of Forza Italia voters). Outside the two regions in which the consultation takes place, the inattention and disinterest of the electoral bodies is growing and perplexities are also increasing among the militants and the electoral base of the two main center-right parties. On the other hand, the picture that emerges in the other electoral blocs is interesting. The referendum proposal talks with just over a quarter of the PD voters (28%), with 37% of the Grillini voters and with 30% of the undecided. Not only. The referendum hypotheses find consensus in more than a quarter of the voters of Central and Southern Italy. To fuel the levels of coldness towards the referendums, on the part of non-resident citizens in Veneto and Lombardy, is the issue of the costs that must be incurred for the two consultations. 55% of Italians believe this is an unnecessary expense, while 34% consider the expense to be fair. Federalist and autonomist sentiment is growing in Italy On the subject, however, there is a greater homogeneity of assessments: doubts about costs emerge both among Forza Italia voters (51%), and among residents of the Northwest (56%), and among those of the Northeast (52%). The detachment of the Italians towards the Lombard-Venetian referendums must not be misleading. The theme of autonomy, primarily fiscal, has long been lapping the coasts of many electorates. For the majority of Italians, 51%, the Regions should negotiate directly with the State a new division of roles, resources and powers. The autonomist process for bargaining appeals to 65% of the voters of the PD, half of the Cinquestelle, the Berlusconi and the undecided. Only the voters of the Northern League do not like the negotiation hypothesis and prefer the way of the referendum cut. In any case, the theme of greater autonomy is on the table. From North to South, more or less half of public opinion is in favor of starting bargaining paths between the Regions and the central State. The data does not concern only today, but is confirmed by the long-term trend. From 1997 to today, the federalist and autonomist push has been increasing. Twenty years ago the autonomists, on a national level, were only 10% of public opinion. A concentrated share, mostly, in the Northern regions and in the Islands. Over the course of 4 decades, the map has changed. Already in 2007 the share of pure autonomists had taken a step forward, reaching 14%. Today it has doubled, rising to 26%. The autonomist and federalist impulse, despite the advance of other pressing issues (crisis, unemployment, immigration, public debt, terrorism, the Euro and Europe), continued to smolder. The growing trend does not portend slowdowns, but, also as a result of the current referendums, the autonomist drive could further accentuate, increasing its weight on the political agenda under the guise of a negotiation between the State and the Regions. The majority are disenchanted with the usefulness of the consultation In the North more convinced of its usefulness, in the Center-South the colder For 55% an unnecessary expense, but 34% are in favor In the Northwest and Northeast, the issue of spending matters less More powers to the Regions by negotiating with the State The push for a concerted autonomy by each Region DATA AND INFORMATION ON POLICY AND PUBLIC OPINION SWG propone nuove forme di linguaggio e distribuzione dei propri servizi, e afferma il concetto di terzietà e di simmetria informativa, garantiti dall’offrire contemporaneamente ai partiti e ai singoli cittadini gli stessi dati. Con PoliticAPP non solo i politici possono accedere ad un sondaggio per conoscere le tendenze dell’opinione pubblica, ma anche i cittadini, e conseguentemente parlarne in famiglia e con gli amici. 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