Mattarella: the application of Autonomy in compliance with subsidiarity

"Autonomy has found adequate valorization and it has become clear that it proves effective and advantageous for the community when it involves the exercise of functions and competences according to a reasonable application of the principles of subsidiarity, adequacy and differentiation, terms that our Constitution uses with reference to administrative functions but which constitute valid criteria also with reference to the articulation of legislative functions". This was stated by the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, speaking in Venice at the Festival of the Regions and Autonomous Provinces on the second day.

He then added that with the reform of the direct election of Governors "the legislative powers of the Regions have been significantly increased at the same time. The principle of autonomy, present since the beginning among the fundamental principles in our Constitutional Charter, has thus had broader implementation. The new distribution of legislative powers between the State and the Regions has required time to settle. In the initial phase, as is known, a high level of understandable conflict emerged, which the jurisprudence of the Constitutional Court has, however, brought back to physiological levels over time, ensuring stability in the performance of functions between the different territorial levels of government".

"The Constitutional Court - he recalled - in order to guide these relationships, has long since enunciated the principle of loyal collaboration. In order for the order of the Republic to function, it is essential that the Regions and the State collaborate profitably while respecting - I repeat - the limits of their own competences established by the Constitution or by law. This applies to the different levels of Government but also in the relationships between the powers. The President of the Republic himself, despite the particular peculiarity of his role, is required to adopt the method of loyal collaboration".

President Sergio Mattarella on the occasion of the Festival of the Regions and Autonomous Provinces, 19 May 2025 (lapresse)

The President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella was welcomed by the President of Veneto Luca Zaia and the Mayor of Venice Luigi Brugnaro.

"I think we are the most beautiful country in the world. We occupy less than 1% of the earth's crust but we own 70% of the world's cultural sites, we are first in terms of world heritage sites, we see China in the rearview mirror with our 4,500 typical products. But, as Don Sturzo said, we must be 'unitary but unrepentant federalists'. This country will not emerge from this unless we change the paradigm of the Italy of inequalities and two speeds that arises from a badly managed centralist project". This was said by the governor of Veneto Luca Zaia, addressing the Head of State.

"At the Olympics - added Zaia - you absolutely must be there. I don't know if I'll be there, but you must be our standard-bearer. It was the local authorities and the Regions that created a global event from the bottom. It was born in Veneto, in Lombardy, in the provinces of Trento and Bolzano. We don't just do damage, we do great things". For Zaia "the citizen would like to see the 'Office for the complication of simple affairs' crumble. We must be united but unrepentant federalists, as Don Sturzo used to say. Two-speed Italy is not born from federalism, but from a badly managed centralist project", he concluded.