Consultation: Third term ban also for Trentino. Zaia: It's absurd there should be a limit.

The principle prohibiting a third consecutive term also applies to the president of the autonomous province of Trento and all presidents of the autonomous regions elected by universal and direct suffrage. This has been established by the Constitutional Court.

The Court deemed the provisions challenged by the Prime Minister to be illegitimate for violating the ban on a third consecutive term, which constitutes a general principle of the Republic's legal system and, as such, also binds the primary legislative power of the special autonomies.

The Constitutional Court's decision came after the Council Chamber held following yesterday's public hearing on the government's appeal against the law of the Autonomous Province of Trento, which increased the number of consecutive terms a provincial president elected by universal and direct suffrage can serve from two to three, and the number of months served in office from 48 to 72, even if not consecutive, to enforce the term limit. The Court, Palazzo della Consulta explains, deemed the provisions challenged by the Prime Minister's office "illegitimate" for "violating the ban on a third consecutive term," which constitutes a "general principle of the Republic's legal system" and, as such, "also binding on the primary legislative power of the special autonomies." The ruling, along with its reasoning, will be filed in the coming weeks.

Since the inauguration of the Fiera Cavalli, the governor of Veneto, Luca Zaia of the Northern League, has once again spoken of a third term: "I'm rooting for a resolution to this paradoxical and uniquely Italian situation, where the only two offices with a term limit, the mayor and the president of the region, are the only two offices in Italy directly elected by the people," he said shortly before the consultation on the third term in Trentino. "The President of the Republic, the prime minister, ministers, deputies, senators, city councilors, regional councilors, and everything else you can think of," he added, "have no term limits. I find it absurd that those elected by the people have term limits, and I am proof of that." The League's leader, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Matteo Salvini, also took issue with the third term: "We, as the League, have proposed to Parliament five times that citizens be able to choose, and they have rejected us five times. Therefore, I continue to believe that it is right that citizens should choose, not just politicians, but I will read the ruling."

Zaia also commented on the polls that show the center-right candidate, Lega Nord's Alberto Stefani , with a large lead: "The center-right is working in Veneto, and this is a concrete fact, but we must also have the foresight and sensitivity to wait for the polls to open, then dig in and work, without thinking we've already won the election. Victories are never easy," he continued. "I think we should never underestimate the fact that this is an election campaign, not a football match. It's essential to talk thoroughly with citizens, and discuss projects and programs." Zaia is the top candidate for the Lega Nord in Veneto, and he emphasizes: "I'm doing my duty and willingly supporting Alberto Stefani's campaign. He's a good guy and will be able to assert himself. The fact that I have a consensus of over 70% is clear, and that's what prevented me from running, and I think it's crucial that the outgoing president brings his support as a dowry."