The Riviera Woman has been asked by the Italian governing Democratic Party (PD) to pass on to the British expat community living on the Italian Riviera their views on the importance of the upcoming referendum taking place on Thursday, 23rd June.

"Brexit" referendum: useful information for UK citizens resident on the Riviera

It is over a century since a British community was first established in Sanremo and on the Italian Riviera and we now share English traditions, Ligurian habits and therefore a common heritage. Every town on the Italian Riviera has a "Corso degli Inglesi". You are now an influential part of our community and we care about your needs and interests.

As you may know a referendum is being held on Thursday, 23 June to decide whether Britain should leave or remain in the European Union.

It is very important to know that every British citizen, even those living abroad, can cast a ballot in the EU referendum: you only need to register as soon as possible on the following website: www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

We, as the Democratic Party, wish the UK to remain in the European Union and keep on sharing a common path with other EU countries as in the past forty years. We also have to remark that British citizens living elsewhere in Europe - as the many who live in our Riviera - may risk losing every right granted by their European Citizenship and suddenly become extra-EU aliens, in the event that "Brexit" option prevails. In any case, even if you do not agree with us, we want to encourage everyone to take part in this referendum.

You can find more information on the website www.gov.uk/voting-when-abroad

Thank you,

The Partito Democratico Sanremo Chairman
Alessandro Lanteri