Franco Rocchetta

Franco Rocchetta (born Venice, 12 April 1947) is an Italian politician, entrepreneur, philologist and history populariser, who is usually described as the "father" of present-day Venetian nationalism and independentism.

[8] In 1980 Rocchetta, who had been a candidate in the list led by Valdostan Union in the 1979 European Parliament election,[9] was instrumental in the foundation of Liga Veneta,[10][11][12] whose goal was to reorganise an independent Venetian Republic within a federal Europe.

[13] Rocchetta was thus Liga Veneta's long-time national president and practical leader, having seized party's control over Achille Tramarin in 1984 and having been elected to the Regional Council of Veneto in 1985.

[23] Having left the Italian Parliament following the 1996 general election, Rocchetta, while continuing to be an active spokesman for Venetian nationalism, focused on pacifism and antimilitarism.

[6] With his "Center for International Studies" dedicated to Paolo Sarpi, Rocchetta organised several initiatives with representatives of minorities, notably including those with Ibrahim Rugova in favour of a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Kosovo.