Veneto and Lombardy were the first regions to sign an autonomy pre-agreement with Minister Roberto Calderoli (pictured). We start from four subjects for which the definition of Lep is not estimated, namely civil protection, professions, additional social security, and the part of health care related to the coordination of public finances. The two governors rejoiced. Luca Zaia (pictured) talks about “historical marks” which are only a starting point, considering that “we start with a model that can then be replicated in the future to cover 23 subjects”. Even for Lombard’s Attilio Fontana, who was moved by memory of former governor Roberto Maroni and his efforts to promote the 2017 referendum, “we are starting to reap the first fruits of the important reforms this country needs.”
While waiting for other subjects, some effects are already visible. Lombardy and Veneto will be able to exert greater influence on the regulation of professions that do not require registration in a register, as well as on the management of additional pensions for public employees. With greater autonomy over civil protection, governors will be able to issue regulations that deviate from regional and state laws in the event of a regional emergency. And this will reduce construction time and improve problem management. Autonomy, explains Calderoli, does not require zero costs: “There is a need to verify whether the funds that have been allocated are sufficient; if not, the budget law must allocate the necessary resources”. But regarding civil protection, the minister added, 20 million has been allocated in 2025, 40 million in 2026 and 60 million in 2027. But in the health sector, we are starting with a small revolution: Regions will be able to use the resources of the National Health Fund more freely, based on the needs of their region which “can finally overcome – as Fontana observes – the logic of silos”. The salaries of health workers cannot be increased, but perhaps this could be done with incentives, especially in border areas, for example. Calderoli sent back to sender a reconstruction of discontent among the allies, particularly in Forza Italia. And outlines future steps.
That is, at the end of the legislature, a pre-agreement approved by the Parliament (which today will also be signed by Piedmont and Liguria), defines the Lep and concludes fiscal federalism, starting from the phase “which ends in March 2026, a milestone for the Pnnr. Either we take it home or the installments of 32 billion and 600 million will be skipped”.
