Venetism

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Venetism is a term used to define an autonomist movement demanding more autonomy for Veneto from Rome, if not the independence, refusing the validity of the result of the referendum with which Veneto was united with Italy in 1866 and wanting to re-discover the Republic of Venice's traditions, culture and language. For these people, of which we can remember Franco Rocchetta (founder of Liga Veneta), Ettore Beggiato (who wrote a book called: 1866: the big trick), Sabino Acquaviva and Giampaolo Borsetto, Veneto is a nation separated from Italy.

In any case also the statute of the Veneto Region speaks of the "Venetian people" and UNESCO gives to Venetian language the status of not endangered language, as it is usually spoken in Veneto, part of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, part of Croatia, Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina in Brazil.

Maybe the most important venetist cultural association is Raixe Venete, which organizes every year the Festa dei Veneti in Cittadella (where Venetist of every political colour, venetist associations, actors, musicians and rock bands, and many simple citizens gather) and whose site is translated in many languages.

From the late 1970's many venetist parties were founded in Veneto, above all it is to remember:

• Liga Veneta (from 1991 part of the Lega Nord)
• Liga Fronte Veneto (born after the merge of the Veneti d'Europa and of the Fronte Marco Polo)
• North-East Project