In an interview with Sputnik, one of the authors of the resolution, head of the faction "Lega Nord", Alessandro Piana, said the party managed to achieve unanimous support for the resolution even among the supporters of the pro-government Democratic Party.
"After a lively discussion, all agreed that this is the position of the region of Liguria toward useless sanctions which are harmful to both Russia and Italy. So we managed to achieve the unanimous approval of the resolution, which in political terms has a higher value than a document adopted by a majority vote.
Earlier this week, the resolution was adopted by a wide margin, but failed to gather support among all political representatives.
"Liguria historically had close relations with Russia, especially in the tourism sector. Russians are attracted to our nature, Mediterranean cuisine, our agricultural products. And it is agriculture that has been hit by the sanctions most of all, not to mention the reduction of the tourist inflow," Piana said.
Today, Italian newspaper La Stampa wrote that thousands of Italian farmers took to the streets of Verona to protest against anti-Russian sanctions. Protesters came from all over the Veneto region to oppose further confrontation with Russia.
"Putin, let's make peace," some farmers wrote on their lemon-yellow banners, the article said.
According to Piana, the resolution calls for the creation of a special committee on the withdrawal of anti-Russian sanctions, and suggests that the national government should condemn the EU's foreign policy with regard to Crimea. The document also specifies that the anti-Russian sanctions imposed by the EU have cost Italy 3.6 billion.
"It is well-known that the decision of the regional government has no legal force. But on a political level, this initiative means a lot, and it is impossible to ignore it. And when a special committee is created in the National Parliament, we will see also more concrete steps in the future," the politician stressed.
"We hope that we will gain the support of the new mayor and the Rome authorities that recently won the election. The opinion of the citizens is important, and it can't be ignored. And we want all political forces in Italy to realize this!" Piana stated.
In 2014, relations between Russia and the European Union, including Italy, deteriorated amid the crisis in Ukraine. Brussels, Washington and their allies have introduced several rounds of anti-Russia sanctions over Crimea's secession from Ukraine and for Moscow's alleged meddling in the Ukrainian conflict. Russia has repeatedly refuted the allegations, warning that the Western sanctions are counterproductive.
