Italian
At the Doge’s Palace, the celebration of 35 years of the Venice Commission, a European laboratory of democracy and law
VENICE – On the morning of Saturday, October 11, President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella was welcomed at the Doge’s Palace by the Mayor of Venice on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe. The ceremony took place in the Sala dello Scrutinio, in the presence of heads of state, international authorities, and representatives of European institutions.
“Venice is proud to be your home. Here you have found and will always find open doors for projects that unite law, culture, and participation, especially to speak to younger generations,” declared the mayor, recalling how the city hosts the only Italian seat of the Council of Europe, located in the Procuratie Vecchie of Piazza San Marco. “It is a permanent dialogue hub between institutions, the city, and civil society, which makes us proud and responsible. Rights do not live only in codes, but in the daily practices of people and places,” he added.
The event was opened by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe Alain Berset and the Chairwoman of the Venice Commission Claire Bazy Malaurie. Speeches followed from the President of the Republic of Moldova Maia Sandu, the President of the Republic of North Macedonia Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, and former President of Latvia Egils Levits. The Italian government was represented by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Founded in 1990, the Venice Commission — officially the “Commission for Democracy through Law” — is the advisory body of the Council of Europe on constitutional law, serving as a reference point for promoting the rule of law and democratic principles.
The celebrations were preceded by the inauguration of the exhibition “Democracy through Law: from the Most Serene Republic to the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe,” held in the Doge’s Apartments and open to the public until January 6, 2026. The exhibition, the result of collaboration between local and international institutions, contrasts the founding laws of the Most Serene Republic’s electoral system with the principles of the modern European rule of law.
“It is an invitation to citizens, students, and visitors to discover how institutions are born from shared values and responsibilities,” concluded the mayor, highlighting the deep connection between Venice, the history of law, and the construction of European democracy.
