Lega's EU Election Win To Give Lombardy More Autonomy In Ties With EU - Regional Official

GENOA (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 28th May, 2019) The victory of Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini's Lega party in the European Parliament elections will make it easier for the wealthy northern region of Lombardy to establish direct and more autonomous relations with Brussels, Roberto Mura, the president of the special commission for relations between Lombardy and European institutions in the Italian region's council, told Sputnik.

In Sunday elections in Italy, euroskeptic Lega won 34.3 percent of the vote, gaining a more than 11-point lead over the closest runner-up, the Democratic Party. Lega, notably, has been consistently promoting the ideas of federalism, regionalism and greater regional autonomy. In October 2017, Lombardy and Veneto held autonomy referendums, which saw over 95 percent of voters asking for more powers to be devolved to these northern regions.

"I am absolutely sure that now, with the victory of Lega in the European Parliament elections, it will become much easier for the regional administrations of Lombardy and Veneto, who have a very strong Lega component, to talk directly to the European Parliament, where Lega is now going to have a strong representation," Mura, who is also a Lega member, said.

Mura specified that his committee was tasked with facilitating this very dialogue with Brussels.

"My commission was set up to guarantee the possibility for Lombardy to have a greater autonomy, to let it speak directly with Europe without turning to Rome first, so that relations with the European institution become direct: Lombardy - EU, and not Lombardy - Rome - Europe," he added.

Lega, initially known as Lega Nord, was established in 1991 as a union of parties representing Italy's north. It has been consistently promoting the ideas of federalism, regionalism and greater regional autonomy.