Venetian Most Serene Government

In the early 1980s Luigi Faccia and Flavio Contin left Liga Veneta, the mainstream regionalist party in Veneto, because they considered it too moderate.

Since 1996 the group has repeatedly hijacked the frequencies of RAI, the Italian state-owned public service broadcaster, in Veneto with separatist proclamations in the Venetian language.

[1] During the night between 8 and 9 May 1997 the Serenissimi, occupied Piazza San Marco and the St Mark's Campanile in Venice in order to proclaim the "independence of Veneto".

[citation needed] The Serenissimi attained a measure of popularity with the Venetian public and the tanko[8][9] is a common exhibit at the yearly Festa dei Veneti[10] and at other rallies, even outside of Veneto.

[13] Representatives from most political parties in Veneto, including center-left figures, defended the Serenissimi: Claudio Rizzato of the Democrats of the Left even praised the "noble ideals" of the group,[14] while Massimo Cacciari and Green Gianfranco Bettin campaigned for the pardon of those in jail, along with the Liga Veneta and the regional section of Forza Italia.