The celebrations for the eightieth anniversary of the Republic are underway. President Sergio Mattarella arrived this morning at the Altar of the Fatherland, crossed by the Frecce Tricolori, to pay homage to the Unknown Soldier. The Head of State was welcomed by Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, with whom he reviewed the armed forces and police detachments. Immediately afterward, a laurel wreath was laid at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The traditional parade then began.

The ceremony was attended, among others, by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and the Speakers of the Chambers of Deputies Ignazio La Russa and Lorenzo Fontana. The absence of Interior Minister Matteo Salvini was conspicuous: "This is a celebration for all Italians, and I feel sorry for those who were absent," said Senate President Ignazio La Russa. "I didn't see Salvini, but look at the group leaders. I didn't see a single group leader" of the opposition "except Italia Viva. I never ask where they are; it's others who have the obsession of asking where others are. Everyone is wherever they want ."

Also marching were a delegation of athletes from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Carabinieri, Guardia di Finanza, State Police, Penitentiary Police, and Fire Brigade , who have represented Italy in major international competitions, including the recent Milan-Cortina Olympic Games. They won or contributed to winning 29 medals in team events. They were preceded by a group of Paralympic athletes from the sports groups of the same armed forces and law enforcement agencies.

The party in the gardens

Eighty years after the referendum that elected the Republic, it's time to consolidate and revitalize the relationship of trust between institutions and citizens. These are the objectives for Mattarella to be pursued through a series of events increasingly dedicated to Italians and less to the country's political apparatus. The traditional and exclusive reception in the Quirinale gardens, which gathered the elite of politics and business around glasses of bubbly, accompanied by a series of Grand Commissioners of State, has been canceled, at least for this year. There is a growing need, the Head of State has stated, to "consolidate the architecture of trust between institutions and citizens."

While the Quirinale Palace delivered its customary message to prefects, yesterday morning the Quirinale gardens filled with children and seniors representing the so-called "fragile" and their caregivers. Approximately 1,500 people, with all their problems, "invaded" the lawns of the Presidency of the Republic, all waiting to see Mattarella up close. The president held no holds barred, shaking hundreds of hands, and listening to the many who thanked him for his decades-long work: "Hold on, President!" was the most heartfelt exclamation.

"The Faces of the Republic"

The Quirinale is now focusing on the event that will take place in the Piazza del Quirinale and will be broadcast live by RAI. Twenty-three cities, including Cagliari, will set up giant screens in their squares to bring the commemorative event closer to the people of Italy's various regions. In the afternoon, RAI will broadcast a conversation between the President and Italian students on the meaning of the Republic eighty years after its birth. Then comes the grand finale with "The Faces of the Republic," an event strongly supported by the Quirinale, broadcast live from Piazza del Quirinale, in the presence of the highest officials of the Italian state. This special event will feature numerous figures from the worlds of culture, art, sport, and institutions. Among the numerous guests, to name just a few, are Roberto Bolle, Annalisa, Luca Barbarossa, Cecilia Bartoli, Gianni Morandi, Giuliano Sangiorgi, Cesare Bocci, Cristiana Capotondi, Paola Cortellesi, Carolina Crescentini, Flavio Insinna, Carlo Verdone, Luca Zingaretti, Paolo Fresu, Danilo Rea, Beppe Bergomi, Federica Brignone, Alessandro Del Piero, Arianna Fontana, Bebe Vio and Abdon Pamich.

(Unioneonline/D)

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