ITALY: FEDERALIST NORTHERN LEAGUE PARTY STEP UP POLITICAL WAR

Описание: (25 Mar 1996) Italian/Nat

Italy's Federalist Northern League party has stepped up its political war with Rome by calling for a referendum on self-determination and sovereignty.

League leader Umberto Bossi has proposed that the northern regions of the country - the economic heart of Italy - become even more independent from Italy's central government.

Calling themselves the new warriors of the Lombard League, almost 25-thousand political fighters gathered in Pontida near Milan Sunday to support the Northern League party.

Umberto Bossi - party leader and champion of separatists of Northern Italy - addressed his army of modern warriors.

He reminded them of the historic importance of Pontida where 800 years ago the Lombard towns joined to fight the oppressor Frederich I.

For many Italians, Bossi symbolises the ultimate political rebel under Italy's cozy political system and many responded when asked to fight the centralist power of Rome.

He declared the north would never give in to the perceived oppressor of the Padania Nation.

SOUNDBITE: (In Italian)
"We would never accept the disruption of the 'Padania Nation' which is a nation of federalist people not belonging to the Latin tradition".
SUPER CAPTION: Umberto Bossi, Leader of the Northern League Party

Together with Irene Pivetti, Northern League deputy and president of the Chamber of Deputies, Bossi called for a new constitution.

This would transform the Italian state into a federation, separating the north from the centre and the south.

SOUNDBITE: (In Italian)
"We want a change which should include a minimum of competence's to the Italian state which will not be allowed to establish any rule regarding the institution of the 'Padania nation' - we and we only can give ourselves a constitution."
SUPER CAPTION: Umbrio Bossi, Leader of the Northern League Party

His proposals were supported by his second in command.

SOUNDBITE: (In Italian)
"The next step from here is the electoral campaign - a political proposal which the elected deputies commit themselves to translate into constitutional law."
SUPER CAPTION: Irene Pivetti, Deputy of the Northern League Party

The League was born out of northern anger at high taxes by central government, corruption, bureaucracy and state spending in the less developed south.

It gained a loyal following with anti-government slogans and its uncompromising quest to shift political power from Rome to the regions under a federal system.

The League broke with Premier Silvio Berlusconi and played a central role in the government's collapse in December 1994.

SOUNDBITE: (In Italian)
I want to sincerely thank you because today Pontida doesn't only have a heart, but also has brains. Thank you.
SUPER CAPTION: Irene Pivetti, Deputy of the Northern League Party

Also on Sunday, members of the party voted for the new constitution and swore fidelity to its federalist principles.

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