Venetians have rejected autonomous local rule for the fifth time in 40 years after just 21% turned out to vote in a referendum on Sunday. Though the majority of those who did vote supported Venice separating from its mainland borough, Mestre, the referendum failed to reach the 50% threshold required for it to be valid. The vote was preceded by heated debates after devastating floods in November, and pro-separatists had anticipated a higher turnout. Triple the number of people live in Mestre, a budget destination for tourists whose only aim is to see Venice. The Venice mayor, Luigi Brugnaro, was accused of trying to sabotage the vote by encouraging people to abstain.

Source: The Guardian December 02, 2019 10:20 UTC