Mattarella: ‘Young people feel the disconnect from the workings of the institutions more keenly’
The Head of State, during a discussion with under-35s entitled “Let’s talk to the President”, broadcast on Rai channels to mark 2 June: “I see a sense of responsibility and core values in young people”
Key points
“I do not at all agree with the frequent expressions of mistrust or criticism directed at young people by some – fortunately few – in my generation and the next. On the contrary, I see in the rising generation a greater number of positive qualities than those possessed by previous generations: a sense of responsibility, awareness, core values, and a desire to build a better society. This is something that gives me great confidence. I am convinced that Italia will benefit greatly from the responsibility, motivation, participation and courage of young people”. This was stated by the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, during a discussion with under-35s, “Let’s talk to the President”, broadcast on Rai channels to mark 2 June.
The Head of State observed that “young people feel more keenly and express more strongly the discomfort caused by the sense of detachment from the workings of institutions. A detachment that, in my view, is mainly due to the diminishing, and sometimes complete disappearance, of opportunities for dialogue—not propaganda from afar, but close interaction between citizens and institutions to address, through discussion, the country’s general issues and those specific to local areas”. This “creates that disaffection that we so often lament. So the feeling that young people’s participation in Italia is on the rise is great news”.
“Young people are putting pressure on governments to tackle climate change”
Mattarella went on to emphasise that “climate change and the crisis it causes are undeniable; they are plain for all to see, even for those who stubbornly deny them. For a long time, we have continued down the path of unlimited and reckless exploitation of the Earth’s resources, which are not infinite. With the consequences we are now seeing. Ignoring the warnings that were raised and presented by science”. “Young people are understandably more attentive and more alarmed by what is happening. Their pressure has led to political initiatives, including at international level, with the various annual climate summits, though the decisions and measures taken remain largely insufficient and, unfortunately, are often denied or even rejected. I am convinced,” added the president, “that the evidence of the facts is increasingly convincing people, and I am counting on the pressure exerted by them and by young people on governments so that we can take truly effective action. What is certain is that we cannot pass on a deteriorated world to the younger generations, as we are in danger of doing”.
“We need rules for AI, not ‘privatisation’ for profit”
“Artificial intelligence is the greatest development of our time” and humanity stands at a “crossroads” regarding its use, President Sergio Mattarella added during a discussion with young people under 35. “It is a situation,” he continued, “that absolutely requires rules. But there is a worrying complication. The tools and this sector are concentrated in very few hands. This is an unacceptable situation, because these are entities that reject rules and oversight.” Given that these are aspects that “shape our lives and therefore affect our freedom—values that are protected by public authorities, by states—we cannot allow,” Mattarella added, “this privatisation of public powers for the benefit of those who would use these powers solely for economic and financial gain. We therefore need to establish national rules, but these are not enough; we need continental, certainly European, rules, and some must be global.”
