by InTrieste
Italy’s Parliament has approved a constitutional amendment restoring provincial governments in the autonomous region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, reversing a reform that abolished them a decade ago.
The Senate gave final approval to the measure this week, with 110 votes in favor, 50 against, and three abstentions, completing the four required parliamentary readings. The governing coalition supported the change unanimously. The Five Star Movement and the Democratic Party voted against it, while the Green–Left Alliance supported the measure and Italia Viva abstained.
The reform amends the region’s special autonomy statute and clears the way for the reintroduction of elected provinces. The regional government, led by governor Massimiliano Fedriga, has said elections are expected in 2027. Until then, the regional council must pass implementing laws to formally establish the provinces, define their responsibilities, and set the electoral system.
The amendment also fixes the number of regional councilors at 49, no longer tying it to demographic changes, and revises the rules for modifying the region’s system of government and electoral law by deferring decisions on referendums to future regional legislation.
The initiative originated in the previous regional legislature and required an extended approval process because changes to the statutes of Italy’s special regions follow procedures similar to constitutional amendments.
