On the ‘further’ autonomy in the ordinary statute regions (or of the deliberately ‘misunderstood’ ‘differentiated’ regionalism)

Abstract

Regionalism in Italy has lacked both a clearly defined model and political actors capable of implementing it without being influenced by contingent or instrumental interests. This issue remains unresolved even after the reform of Title V. Following an initial phase of relative «silence», the political and institutional behavior at both the regional and national levels, as well as the debates they have sparked, appear to focus not on the differentiated autonomy envisioned in art. 116, par. 3, but rather on a more general concept of regionalism. This has been embraced by some and opposed by others, often with little regard for the relevant constitutional framework, resulting in a model with a more limited scope and a distinct rationale. The recently approved framework law does not address these concerns, but rather compounds them, highlighting the need for further critical reflection