Mattarella: our Constitution is wise and far-sighted
The Head of State lays the laurel wreath at the Altare della Patria, then says: "The Fathers of the Fatherland dreamed of Italy open to the EU". Meloni: "Let's go back to the first idea of the EU, with specific states". Salvini polemical with Mattarella: "Today is Republic Day, not European sovereignty".
4' min read
Key points
- Placing the laurel wreath
- Fathers of the Fatherland dreamed Italy open to the EU
- The Republic is grateful to the Armed Forces
- Meloni, at the stage when peace is under discussion serves Republic
- Crosetto, armed forces crucial for peace and security
- Meloni, back to first EU idea, with state specificity
- Salvini: Mattarella? Today is not a celebration of EU sovereignty
- Gentiloni, in the face of wars and threats we love the Republic
- Mayors and armed forces parade in the Imperial Forum
- Blinken, grateful for Italy's leadership in G7 presidency
4' min read
"Celebrating the seventy-eight years of the birth of the Italian Republic recalls the values of our identity and of a far-sighted and wise Constitution, the fruit of the extraordinary rebirth that began with the Liberation struggle. Independence and freedom are conquests that must be defended every day, in communion of intent and with the ability to cooperate for the common good'. This is what the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, wrote in a message to the Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone on the occasion of the 2 June celebrations;
Depositing the laurel wreath
.The celebrations of the 78th anniversary of the birth of the Italian Republic opened in Rome with the solemn flag-hoisting at the Altare della Patria and the homage to the Unknown Soldier, where a laurel wreath was laid by President Mattarella, accompanied by the highest offices of State. Present in Piazza Venezia were Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, the Presidents of the Senate and Chamber of Deputies Ignazio La Russa and Lorenzo Fontana, and Defence Minister Guido Crosetto. The Frecce Tricolori flew over Piazza Venezia. This was followed by the traditional parade at the Imperial Forums.
Fathers of the Fatherland dreamed Italy open to the EU
Mattarella then added: 'The Fathers of the Fatherland were aware of the risks and limits of closure within national spheres and dreamed of an Italy open to Europe, close to the peoples who everywhere in the world were fighting for their freedom. Our contribution - and in it the Armed Forces - to the cause of international peace and stability is more valuable than ever in today's situation characterised by devastation and aggression against civilian populations in Europe and the Middle East'.
The Republic is grateful to the Armed Forces
.Hence the message to the Armed Forces. "The Republic is grateful to the women and men of the Armed Forces for the tasks they perform in the demanding operational theatres where they are called to operate, in the United Nations missions, in those resulting from the solidarity between the countries of the Atlantic Alliance, in the decisions to which we have contributed within the European Union. The guarantee of civil coexistence, development and the pursuit of international justice know they can count on the security framework offered by the Armed Forces'.
Meloni: at the stage when peace is under discussion, a Republic is needed
"This celebration is also very important at this stage because clearly we are in a situation in which so many certainties we had, peace for example, are being questioned and there is a need for the Republic, there is a need for the nation, there is a need for the State to deal with them responsibly". Thus the Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni.
