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A8 WORLD NEWS
Monday 23 october 2017

Lombardy chief says 95% vote ‘yes’ for autonomy

MILAN (AP) — The president said returns were slow com-
of Italy’s rich Lombardy re- ing in because comput-
gions says an overwhelm- ers in the region had been
ing 95 percent of the vote hacked. But he said offi-
in the northern area’s au- cials were able to confirm
tonomy referendum went the high turnout by calling
to “yes” to seeking more city halls.
powers and tax revenues The presidents of Italy’s
from the national govern- wealthy northern regions
ment. of Veneto and Lombardy
Lombardy President Rober- are both claiming victory
to Maroni has told report- for the “yes” vote in auton-
ers in Milan that turnout for omy referendums that seek
Sunday’s ballot was above to grab additional pow-
40 percent — exceeding ers and tax revenue from
the 34 percent target that Rome.
he had set for success. The Sunday’s two votes are
latter figure was the turnout nonbinding, but the lead-
for a national referendum ers of the neighboring re-
on constitutional reform in gions hope to leverage
2001. strong turnout in talks with
Turnout was an even higher Italy’s government.
60 percent in the neighbor- Veneto President Luca Zaia
ing Veneto region, which said in Venice after polls Lombardy Region President, Northern League’s Roberto Maroni speaks during a press conference
posed the same autonomy closed that “Veneto offers at the Lombardy Region headquarters, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017. Voters in the wealthy
northern Italian regions of Lombardy and Veneto went to the polls for a non-biding referendum over
question to its voters. itself as a laboratory of au- the question if they want to seek greater autonomy from Rome, riding a tide of self-determination
Veneto President Luca Zaia tonomy.” His counterpart that is sweeping global politics. Both regions are run by the anti-migrant, anti-Europe Northern
League, whose leaders claim victory in the autonomy votes that seek to take powers, tax revenue
from Rome.
(AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
in Lombardy, Roberto Ma- al councils to finalize their education and environ-
roni, said that with the ref- requests before going to ment. Unlike the indepen-
erendums the two regions Rome to meet with Premier dence referendum held
“can unify our forces so we Paolo Gentiloni. Oct. 1 in Spain’s Catalonia
can do the battle of the They want to keep more tax region, the votes in Lom-
century.” revenue and have autono- bardy and Veneto are not
The two leaders say they my over such policy areas asking if the regions should
will meet with their region- as immigration, security, break away from Italy.q

Slovenia:
President wins most votes, but faces runoff

By ALI ZERDIN the northern town of Kam- to prove that I’m the best
Associated Press nik, had 25 percent. choice. I’m glad for the
LJUBLJANA, Slovenia (AP) Slovenia has a population support that I got in the first
— Slovenia’s President of 2 million and is the home- round.”
Borut Pahor, a former mod- land of U.S. first lady Mela- Pre-election surveys had
el and veteran politician nia Trump. shown that Pahor, 53, could
known for his use of social Nine candidates — includ- win a majority of votes cast
media, won the most votes ing five women — were Sunday and therefore an-
in a presidential election on the first round ballot for other term without a runoff
Sunday, but will face a run- the largely ceremonial but election.
off against an ambitious still influential presidential After results were an-
challenger. post in the European Union nounced late Sunday,
A near-complete vote member country. Sarec suggested he had
count showed Pahor re- Since no candidate won been underestimated in
ceived 47 percent of Sun- more than 50 percent of the polls and expressed
day’s vote. His closest rival, the vote, a runoff sched- confidence he would at-
Marjan Sarec, a former co- uled for Nov. 12 is needed. tract more voter support in
median who is mayor of Pahor said “I’ll do my best the next three weeks..q