Laura Mattarella: the role of first lady an honour and a duty

 "I considered it a duty and also an honour to stand next to my father on official occasions of the Republic, in a role that my mother would certainly have performed better. For the rest, I can only add that, in the world, apart from professional satisfaction, there are many other gratifications, even much greater ones". This is how Laura Mattarella, in an interview with Vogue Italia, recounts her institutional role alongside her father, President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella.

Hers, she explains, was 'a free, responsible and well-considered choice', taken after having spoken 'immediately' with her father and husband. She left her job as a lawyer but assures that the sacrifices she made were 'a few, reasonable and minor ones', because she comes 'from a family where confidentiality and discretion are not considered a formality or just a duty, but the most intense way of living relations between people, family members, friends. On the whole, I have tried to maintain an absolutely normal life for myself and my family'.

She does not live at the Quirinale, she adds, but 'happily at home with my husband and children' and 'absolutely not', she replies, there is no reimbursement for her expenses, not even for clothes. "The role of 'first lady' in Italy is not envisaged' and 'in ceremonial protocols, in Italy and abroad, I am referred to simply as "Mrs Laura Mattarella". And that is right,' stresses the daughter of the President of the Republic, widowed since 2012, clarifying that she does not play the role of 'assistant': 'In Italy, I generally accompany my father on occasions of a cultural nature or with social relevance, in sometimes informal contexts. On many institutional occasions - such as diplomatic talks, meetings of bodies, military ceremonies - my participation is obviously not planned'.

"As far as foreign countries are concerned, I accompany my father on visits to countries where figures from the President's or Sovereign's family are present. I would like to add,' he emphasises, 'that on these visits, which I would say are as interesting as they are demanding, I do not play the role of my father's 'assistant'. When we arrive in a foreign country, the President follows the programme of his institutional meetings, I follow a cultural and social programme, accompanied by the consort of the Head of State of the host country'.

And when Mattarella receives foreign heads of state, his daughter accompanies 'the first lady or the first gentleman to visit the Quirinale, which well represents the history of our country, a history that they have the opportunity to get to know or deepen. But they also visit museums, exhibitions, therapeutic communities, humanitarian organisations, places of assistance. It is an honour and a source of pride for me to show foreign guests our splendid artistic and cultural heritage and to accompany them to get to know the places and people of solidarity, which show so many admirable aspects of our people'.