Last modified: 2013-06-14 by rob raeside
Keywords: valdotanian union | union valdōtaine |
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image by Marcus Schmöger, 11 May 2013
See also:
UV (Union Valdōtaine = Valdotanian Union)
The UV is a regionalist
party in the smallest of the Italian regions, the Aosta Valley. Although
being the most important party there, at times other parties (or alliances)
had their successes, in particular in national elections. UV currently holds
14 seats in the regional parliament. For national elections the UV runs under
the name "Val d'Aosta", usually together with alliance partners. In the
February 2013 elections, the "Val d'Aosta" list has won the one seat reserved
for the Aosta Valley in the Camera dei Deputati (held by the alliance partner
"Stella Alpina") as well as the one in the Senato (held by the UV itself).
The party symbol is a clear reference to regional symbols: it is a shield
divided per pale of red and black, a golden lion rampant overall; on a white
chief the party name in black (or sometimes gold).
The general flag of
the UV is divided vertically of black and red (i.e. the regional flag) with
the party symbol in the center [1,2,3,4].
In addition,
there are several versions of single-item flags with embroidered inscriptions
and fringe in use [1,5,6,7]. One particularity is the usage of hanging
flags with swallowtail, basically of the same layout. The first version (used
in 1979) was long and included the party name in large (probably white)
letters [8,9].
The second version (used in 1988) was
similar, but removed the large inscription [10,11].
The current version is rather short, and nowadays more rarely used, as far as
I can see [12,13].
Another particularity of the flag
usage of the UV is the large number of single-item flags used by the
different local branches. I have identified more than 50 on the photographs
available at the party website [e.g. 14,15,16]. By and large, they follow a
similar pattern: the general party flag with fringe, the embroidered party
name and the branch name. There are a lot of slight variations, though, for
instance in the details of the shield or the size and placing of the
inscriptions.
Sources:
[1] own observations and photos, 3 June 2008
[2]
http://www.aostasera.it/userdata/immagini/foto/670/img2356_65971.JPG
[3]
http://www.unionvaldotaine.org/elementi/www/foto/2010_fete_hiver/2e_fete_hiver_27.jpg
[4]
http://www.unionvaldotaine.org/elementi/www/foto/2006_congres/2006_22charles.jpg
--
[5]
http://www.unionvaldotaine.org/elementi/www/foto/1983_greve_emploie/1983_12_vol3.jpg
[6]
http://www.unionvaldotaine.org/elementi/www/foto/1983_greve_emploie/1983_37_vol3.jpg
[7]
http://www.unionvaldotaine.org/elementi/www/foto/1998_elect_reg/1998_56b_vol10.jpg
--
[8]
http://www.unionvaldotaine.org/elementi/www/foto/1979_ass_consult/1979_17_vol2.jpg
[9]
http://www.unionvaldotaine.org/elementi/www/foto/1979_ass_consult/1979_16_vol2.jpg
--
[10]
http://www.unionvaldotaine.org/elementi/www/foto/1988_elect_reg/1988_51a_vol5.jpg
[11]
http://www.unionvaldotaine.org/elementi/www/foto/1988_elect_reg/1988_49b_vol5.jpg
--
[12]
http://www.unionvaldotaine.org/elementi/www/foto/2010_rendez_vous/sfilata_19.jpg
[13]
http://www.unionvaldotaine.org/elementi/www/foto/2010_rendez_vous/lundi_29.jpg
--
[14]
http://www.unionvaldotaine.org/elementi/www/foto/2008_region_comices/comice_ouverture_4.jpg
[15]
http://www.unionvaldotaine.org/elementi/www/foto/2011_rendez_vous/samedi_19.jpg
[16]
http://www.unionvaldotaine.org/elementi/www/foto/2012_rendez_vous/rv_26.jpg
Marcus Schmöger, 11 May 2013
There are several photos with red at the hoist, with black at the
hoist, with arms & crown, with arms and no crown:
http://www.flagsonline.it/asp/drapeau.asp/drapeau_val%20d%20aoste%20avec%20ecusson/val%20d%20aoste%20avec%20ecusson.html
even shows in the same page two flags, one with red at hoist and other with
black at hoist. While photos of Union Valdotaine have the black at hoist, the
photos of the regional flag appear in two forms. The regional gonfanon show the
red at left. The arms of Union Valdotaine also show the red at left.
As I
believe that there no law about the flag I suspect that the adequate regional
flag (following the gonfanon) must be the red-black, plain or with arms (crowned
or uncrowned), while the party flag must be the one with the reversed colors
(black-red). Certainly black and red or red and black are the national colours
and it may be that the identification between the party and the land was
too strong to create this confusion. The Jeunesse Valdotaine (youth branch of
Union Valdotaine) use a black-red flag with a stylized heart in the centre
red-black and the golden rampant lion. Other regional parties have the red in a pre-eminent position
(Terra e Libertą and Federation autonomiste above, union valdotaine
progressiste at left; ALPE mainly red seal with black cock, but in white
cloth; only Stella Alpina Vallée d'Aoste has the black at hoist.
Jaume
Ollé, 11 May 2013
The flag is defined by regional law of 2006 as being black at the hoist and
without any arms or emblem:
http://www.consiglio.regione.vda.it/banche_dati/leggi_regolamenti/dettaglio_f.asp?pk_lr=3461&versione=V
http://www.consiglio.regione.vda.it/banche_dati/leggi_regolamenti/dettaglio_i.asp?tipo=L&numero_legge=6%2F06&versione=V%20%29
Marcus Schmöger, 11 May 2013
images by Marcus Schmöger, 11 May 2013
