by Nastassja Martin
The Friuli Venezia Giulia Regional Council is preparing to consider two bills next Monday that would amend the region’s statutory law and establish new rules governing referendums, Regional Councilor Robetti said.
The proposed changes are intended to bring the region’s statute into line with national legislation, which was updated following a ruling by Italy’s Constitutional Court, Robetti said. He argued that the existing provisions were no longer constitutionally valid and that new referendum regulations were needed to address a legal gap.
The second bill would establish procedures for referendums, including provisions making it easier for citizens to call a vote by significantly reducing the number of signatures required.
Under the proposed framework, a referendum could be called following a majority vote by the Regional Council to amend the statute. However, the proposal would also introduce a minimum turnout requirement of 40 percent of eligible voters.
Robetti said the threshold was intended to ensure that referendum results reflected substantial public participation, rather than allowing a relatively small number of voters to determine the outcome of decisions made by the Regional Council.
Meanwhile, work is continuing on the establishment of intermediate provincial bodies and the transfer of administrative responsibilities from the regional government.
Robetti said a steering committee meeting held last week approved draft measures transferring responsibilities related to hunting and agriculture. Further meetings will examine which functions currently managed by individual regional departments and directorates could be transferred to the new bodies to improve administrative efficiency.
The process is part of the region’s broader effort to redistribute responsibilities between the regional administration and the intermediate level of government.
