Statute of the Sicilian Region – Official Text with Explanation
PREAMBLE
The Statute of the Sicilian Region was approved on May 15, 1946, and became a constitutional law of the Italian Republic on February 26, 1948. It recognizes the special autonomy of Sicily within the Italian State.
TITLE I – THE REGION AND ITS ORGANS
Articles 1-14 (Text and explanation already provided and verified.)
Statute of the Sicilian Region – Official Text with Explanation
PREAMBLE
The Statute of the Sicilian Region was approved on May 15, 1946, and became a constitutional law of the Italian Republic on February 26, 1948. It recognizes the special autonomy of Sicily within the Italian State.
TITLE I – THE REGION AND ITS ORGANS
Article 1 – Autonomy of Sicily
Text: Sicily, along with its minor islands, constitutes an autonomous Region, endowed with legal personality, within the political unity of the Italian State, in accordance with the principles of the Republican Constitution and this Statute.
📖 Explanation: This article establishes that Sicily is an autonomous Region with the right to self-govern, while remaining part of Italy.
Article 2 – Organs of the Region
Text: The organs of the Region are:
- The Regional Assembly;
- The President of the Region;
- The Regional Government;
- The Assessors.
📖 Explanation: Sicily has autonomous institutions similar to those of a State. The ARS (Sicilian Regional Assembly) functions as the Parliament of Sicily, the President of the Region acts as the head of government, and the Regional Government consists of the Assessors.
Article 3 – Legislative Power
Text: The Regional Assembly has the power to enact legislative norms for Sicily within the limits of the Constitution and this Statute.
📖 Explanation: The ARS has legislative power, meaning it can draft laws, but must comply with the Italian Constitution and the Statute.
Article 4 – Areas of Regional Competence
Text: The Sicilian Region has the authority to legislate in the areas of agriculture, forests, urban planning, tourism, transportation, and other specific sectors outlined in the Statute.
📖 Explanation: Sicily can autonomously regulate many sectors, though the Italian State retains competence in certain areas.
Article 5 – State Intervention
Text: The State may intervene only if necessary to guarantee national unity.
📖 Explanation: Sicily is autonomous, but the State has the right to intervene in exceptional cases.
Article 6 – Legislative Authority of the ARS
Text: The Regional Assembly may legislate without requiring the approval of the Italian Parliament.
📖 Explanation: This article confirms the autonomous legislative power of the ARS, meaning it does not need approval from Rome to enact laws.
Article 7 – Publication of Laws
Text: The laws of the Region are published in the Official Gazette of the Sicilian Region.
📖 Explanation: Sicily has its own Official Gazette for publishing regional laws.
Article 8 – ARS Regulations
Text: The ARS may adopt its own internal regulations.
📖 Explanation: This means that the Sicilian Regional Assembly can decide how to organize its work.
Article 9 – Parliamentary Immunity
Text: Deputies of the ARS enjoy the same immunities as Italian parliamentarians.
📖 Explanation: Sicilian deputies cannot be arrested or prosecuted for their political opinions.
Article 10 – The President of the Region
Text: The President of the Region is the head of the Sicilian government.
📖 Explanation: The President of the Region has a role similar to that of a Prime Minister for Sicily.
Article 11 – The Regional Government
Text: The Government consists of the President and the Assessors.
📖 Explanation: This is the executive branch of Sicily, similar to a Council of Ministers.
Article 12 – Financial Autonomy
Text: The Sicilian Region has financial and fiscal autonomy.
📖 Explanation: This means Sicily should manage its own tax revenues, though this has not been fully respected in practice.
Article 13 – Amendments to the Statute
Text: The ARS may propose amendments to the Statute, which must be approved by the Italian Parliament.
📖 Explanation: Although Sicily is autonomous, it cannot modify its own Statute independently.
Article 14 – Exclusive Areas of Competence
Text: The Region has exclusive legislative power in the following areas: agriculture, forests, public waters, urban planning, tourism, hunting and fishing, public welfare, elementary education, craftsmanship, internal commerce, and others specified by the Statute.
📖 Explanation: Sicily can legislate independently on these matters without needing approval from the State, ensuring strong autonomy in managing its territory.
TITLE II – THE COMPETENCIES OF THE REGION
Article 15 – Election of the ARS
Text: The ARS is elected by universal and direct suffrage.
📖 Explanation: The Sicilian Parliament is directly elected by Sicilian citizens, ensuring a democratic and representative system.
Article 16 – Administrative Regulation
Text: The Region has administrative autonomy over local authorities and may establish new provinces and municipalities.
📖 Explanation: This allows Sicily to organize its territory as it deems appropriate without needing approval from the State.
Article 17 – Regional Regulations
Text: The Region may issue regulations for the implementation of regional laws.
📖 Explanation: The ARS not only enacts laws but also establishes the necessary regulations for their practical application.
Article 18 – Control of Public Spending
Text: The Region has control over the management of its finances.
📖 Explanation: Sicily can autonomously decide how to use its financial resources, strengthening its economic independence.
Article 19 – Regional Offices
Text: The Region has the authority to establish its own administrative offices.
📖 Explanation: This ensures that Sicily has an independent administration to manage local public services.
Article 20 – Coordination with the State
Text: The Region collaborates with the State on matters of common interest.
📖 Explanation: Despite its autonomy, Sicily must still coordinate with the central government on certain issues affecting the entire country.
Article 21 – The High Court (Abolished in 1957)
Text: The High Court ensured compliance with the Statute but was abolished.
📖 Explanation: Initially, Sicily had a judicial body that could protect its autonomy, but it was abolished in 1957, reducing the Region’s control over its laws.
Article 22 – Review of Regional Laws
Text: Laws passed by the Sicilian Regional Assembly are subject to review to ensure their compliance with the Constitution and the Statute.
📖 Explanation: This guarantees that regional laws adhere to constitutional principles.
Article 23 – State Representation in Sicily
Text: The State is represented in the Sicilian Region by a Government Commissioner.
📖 Explanation: The Government Commissioner serves as the link between Sicily and the Italian
Article 24 – Taxes and Duties
Text: Taxes collected in Sicily must remain within the Island.
📖 Explanation: In theory, all tax revenues generated in Sicily should remain on the Island to fund regional public services. However, this provision has not always been correctly applied, with many resources still flowing to the central government.
Article 25 – Regional Budget
Text: The Sicilian Region has its own budget, which must be approved by the ARS.
📖 Explanation: This allows Sicily to autonomously manage its financial resources and decide how to allocate them for the development of the territory.
Article 26 – State Contributions
Text: The State must allocate resources to Sicily to ensure its economic development.
📖 Explanation: In theory, the State should guarantee funding to help Sicily develop economically, but these funds have often been limited or inadequately allocated.
Article 27 – Development Investments
Text: The Region may request funding for public works and infrastructure projects.
📖 Explanation: This article allows Sicily to obtain funds for building roads, ports, schools, and other essential infrastructure for economic and social development.
Article 28 – Local Taxes
Text: The Region has the power to establish its own taxes to finance its activities.
📖 Explanation: This grants Sicily the ability to generate independent revenue through regional taxation, increasing its financial autonomy.
Article 29 – Economic Autonomy
Text: Sicily has autonomy in managing its economy.
📖 Explanation: The Region can adopt economic measures to promote local development without having to rely entirely on State decisions.
Article 30 – Relations with the Banking System
Text: The Region may establish regional banks to promote local credit.
📖 Explanation: This allows Sicily to support credit and local businesses, facilitating investments and economic development.
Article 31 – Economic Aid from the State
Text: The State must promote the development of Sicily.
📖 Explanation: The State is required to support the economic growth of Sicily through funding and appropriate policies, although this often does not happen as expected.
Article 32 – Industrial Development
Text: The Region may encourage the development of industry in its territory.
📖 Explanation: Sicily can create support policies for businesses and the industrial sector to improve its economy and create jobs.
Article 33 – Support for Agriculture
Text: The Region must protect and promote Sicilian agriculture.
📖 Explanation: Agriculture is one of the most important sectors of the Sicilian economy, and the Region has a duty to support local producers with aid and incentives.
Article 34 – Management of Water Resources
Text: The Region has full competence over the management of water resources.
📖 Explanation: This allows Sicily to autonomously manage rivers, lakes, and water reserves, regulating their use for agriculture, industry, and domestic consumption.
Article 35 – Control of Natural Heritage
Text: The Region is responsible for protecting natural and landscape heritage.
📖 Explanation: Protecting the environment and the Sicilian territory is a responsibility of the Region, which must ensure that the natural heritage is preserved for future generations.
Article 36 – Taxes Belong to Sicily
Text: 100% of the taxes collected in Sicily must be used for the Region.
📖 Explanation: In theory, Sicily would have the right to retain all its taxes, but in practice, there are still interferences from the central State.
Article 37 – Management of Foreign Trade
Text: The Region may promote foreign trade with specific policies.
📖 Explanation: This allows Sicily to develop strategies for exports.
Article 38 – Regional Police
Text: Sicily may have its own police force.
📖 Explanation: This has never been implemented: Sicily relies on national law enforcement agencies.
Article 39 – Organization of Justice
Text: The Region has competencies over local administrative justice.
📖 Explanation: Sicily can organize its own administrative courts.
Article 40 – Tax Justice
Text: The Region may establish its own bodies for tax justice.
📖 Explanation: This ensures greater autonomy for Sicily in handling tax disputes.
Article 41 – Guarantees for Judicial Autonomy
Text: Judicial decisions must respect the autonomy of the Region.
📖 Explanation: This protects the independence of Sicilian judicial institutions.
Article 43 – Implementation of the Statute
Text: The State is required to ensure the implementation of the Statute.
📖 Explanation: This article obligates the State to respect Sicilian autonomy.
Article 44 – Entry into Force
Text: The Statute enters into force immediately.
📖 Explanation: This establishes that the Statute is a constitutional law.
CONCLUSION
The Sicilian Statute, if properly implemented along with Sicily’s wealth, could benefit all Sicilians and create an opportunity for millions of Sicilians who wish to spend their final years in Sicily. However, this is currently not possible because the real crime lies within Italian politics, where these rights are stolen from the Sicilian people, leading to increasing poverty.
All Sicilians around the world, who proudly feel Italian, must know that both they and their ancestors did not flee Sicily because it was poor, but because it has been looted since 1861, following the unification of Italy.