A tricolor ribbon, a packed crowd, a parade of ministers, parliamentarians, and activists. And the absence of Democratic Party secretary Elly Schlein, amidst mockery and sighs, is the main focus. Yesterday, Atreju opened its doors with Arianna Meloni cutting the ribbon and the usual crowd , so crowded that one man was taken ill. The FdI event kicked off with ministers, group leaders, and Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri, welcomed and escorted by MP Giovanni Donzelli, who introduced himself "because he's the mayor of all," claiming institutional fair play. But it was the failed confrontation between Schlein and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni that dominated the proceedings. Indeed, FdI radio immediately went on the offensive: "Elly? Who's seen her?" joked Grazia Di Maggio and Etelwardo Sigismondi. "Come to Atreju, you'll feel right at home: there are no pro-Pal supporters tugging at your jacket, no Maranzas asking to support you, no factions. We care about Elly Schlein," is the ironic appeal of Galeazzo Bignami, leader of the FdI group in the Chamber of Deputies.

Gualtieri is more cautious, holding back on the irony: the missed meeting with Meloni "isn't Elly's fault," even if it would have been "a great opportunity," but it can be remedied "at different levels." Then, with Donzelli, he indulges in a gag about the budget and the amendment to overturn the administration of Rome's debt: "Please," he says from the stage, emphasizing that "it wasn't a favor, but the right thing to do." It's impossible not to notice the level of irony and sarcasm directed at his opponents. At the party, in fact, the big debut is for the "bullometer": a panel measuring "the left's hate speech," with scores ranging from originality to spite. From Boschi to Landini, from Albanese to Odifreddi: no one escapes the blackboard, while a few steps away, nativity scenes, lucky croissants, and an ice-skating rink provide the other half of the party.

There's also the pantheon of "hegemony of values": from Marconi to Pasolini, from Calipari to Charlie Kirk, by way of Sammy Basso. A Schlein-Meloni comparison was the topic of another panel, featuring Anna Paola Concia, a feminist civil rights activist and former Democratic Party MP, who was a guest for the presentation of her book and that of Barbara Saltamartini. "Giorgia Meloni's appointment as prime minister was also beneficial to the left," Concia argued, arguing: with Meloni as prime minister, "the Democratic Party felt the need to counter her with another young woman."

Meanwhile, the other Meloni, Arianna, on the eve of the party, highlighted the Democratic Party secretary's "mistake": "A missed opportunity." According to the head of the political secretariat and membership drive for FdI, she and Conte "could have joined forces against my sister." There's no shortage of guests, both prominent and unlikely: from Zuppi to Mara Venier, to Maria De Filippi, who was absent for "C'è Posta per Te." And the panel with Francesco Rutelli and Gianfranco Fini, "the two challengers in the first direct elections for Rome's mayor," Arianna Meloni recalled, then issued a warning to Gualtieri ahead of the 2027 municipal elections: "Rome was fortunate to have a government that supported it. We, during the election campaign, will remind Gualtieri of all the things he did wrong. It will be up to the Romans to decide," she added. A "joke" that, however, did not faze the mayor, who on the sidelines of the event replied: "It's as it should be in a mature democracy: institutions that collaborate," institutions that collaborate, with different ideas and a "lively, animated" policy.

(Unioneonline)

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