Regions of Italy
Regions of Italy
Provisions for at least some degree of regional autonomy were made in the 1948 constitution. However, five regions (Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Sardinia, Sicily, Trentino-South Tyrol, and Aosta Valley) have been granted a special autonomy statute based on cultural grounds and on the presence of important minorities. Trentino-South Tyrol has a double capital, one for the Trentino zone (prevalence of Italian speakers) and another one for the South Tyrol zone (prevalence of German and Ladin speakers). Each region has an elected council and a Giunta Regionale (executive committee) headed by a president. The Giunta is responsible to the council and is required to resign if it fails to retain the council's confidence. Government is thus analogous to the national government in structure.
Provincial and communal governments follow similar principles: councils and giunte headed by provincial presidents or communal mayors.
Regional autonomy has been made an issue in Italian politics in recent years, no doubt aided by the emergence of parties such as the Lega Nord.
