Resist Veneto
Resist Veneto is a populist and Venetian nationalist political party in Veneto, Italy, led by Riccardo Szumski.
History
In 2022, Riccardo Szumski, a physician provisionally struck off the national register due to his positions regarding vaccination, launched a grassroot movement known as "Resist", opposing containment measures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Szumski, who was continuously mayor, assessor, deputy mayor and again mayor of Santa Lucia di Piave from 1994 to 2022, has a complex political upringing: Italian Democratic Socialist Party, Liga Veneta–Lega Nord, Forza Italia, again Liga Veneta–Lega Nord and finally Party of Venetians.In June 2025 Szumski launched Resist Veneto in order to run in the upcoming November regional election, featuring also candidates belonging to Vita, Venetian Independence and a number of minor Venetian nationalist parties.
In the election, Szumski surprisingly won 5.1% of the vote, while RV 5.0% and two regional councillors, Szumski himself and Davide Lovat. RV was particularly strong in the province of Treviso, especially in its norther part, known as "Sinistra Piave". There the party came first in Szumski's home turf of Santa Lucia di Piave and in small municipalities as Refrontolo, Susegana, Vazzola, Sarmede, Revine Lago, Mareno di Piave, Colle Umberto and Fregona, but also notably well in the urban area around Vittorio Veneto, Conegliano and San Vendemiano. Outside the province of Treviso, the party did best in the provinces of Belluno and Vicenza, where Lovat was elected.