«I see risks for special autonomies. Sardinia and the other Regions with special statutes will end up losing ground compared to the stronger ones which would acquire greater powers with differentiated autonomy».
The reflection of Gaetano Azzariti, professor of constitutional law in the Faculty of Law of the "La Sapienza" University of Rome , starts from the debate on autonomy caused by the draft reform presented by the Minister of Regional Affairs Calderoli.
«All this then - explains the jurist - risks nullifying the recognition in our Constitution of the principle of insularity which in reality was already referred to in the Constitution before the 2001 reform, then abandoned, and which recently had a complete definition. It is a principle of great importance for Sardinia, but which needs to be accompanied and supported in the coming months with consequent acts".
Professor, what doesn't convince you?
«There is a race to appropriate the functions (all those connected to the matters indicated in the third paragraph of article 116) which ends up obscuring the true principle that should constitute the compass to legitimize the broadest autonomy: that of "differentiation" which should link decentralization to the different needs of the regions. Just to give an example, the utmost account should be taken of the peculiarity that derives from living in Sardinia (or in other islands), which necessarily entails a situation of disadvantage in terms of air and sea connections to and from the Continent. Ensuring greater autonomy and greater guarantees, also in order to allow adequate investments, appears necessary in order to respect the principle of equality among all Italian citizens. In other words, it seems necessary to differentiate by providing more transport services to ensure the right of Sardinians to travel for work and health reasons or simply for tourism. And the same could be said for other peculiarities in other parts of the territory which should push us to extend autonomy to ensure the right to health or education in parts of our country - small islands or territories without adequate structures - without hospitals or schools ».
