Reggio calabria buzzed with political energy as a significant gathering marked the conclusion of the election campaign for regional seats and the upcoming city council elections in Calabria’s most populous city. The event, headlined by Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, drew a crowd of supporters, complete with flags and signature red hats, to the city’s prominent waterfront, adjacent to the renowned Riace Bronzes museum.
However, the rally wasn’t without its dissent. A vocal contingent of protestors,displaying Palestinian flags and “no bridge” banners,voiced their opposition. These counter-demonstrations, which targeted the infrastructure minister’s project, punctuated the national party representatives’ speeches with whistles and jeers.
The rally, lasting just over an hour, brought key party figures to the “tip of the boot,” as described by former General Vannacci, who aimed to rally support and draw applause. The presence of such a significant political gathering in this region was noted as a notable shift from past political landscapes.
The event commenced with Undersecretary Claudio Duringon introducing candidates for the regional elections. The lineup featured individuals transitioning from other political parties, including a provincial manager from Forza Italia who had previously served on the regional council, and a candidate from the Finiana right. notably, the former mayor of reggio and ex-governor of Calabria, Scopelliti, who had faced a five-year sentence for false pretenses, returned to the political stage, endorsing candidate Sarica. Even Neri, a former deputy mayor from the center-left in Reggio, was present, having shifted his political allegiance to the party.
The rally occurred on a day when Reggio,alongside approximately a hundred other Italian cities,participated in solidarity marches for the Palestinian people. Former General Vannacci, in his address, touched upon the themes of migration and flotillas, seemingly setting the stage for Salvini’s remarks. Salvini seized the opportunity to criticize pro-Palestinian demonstrations and recent strikes,stating,”Peace will not be achieved through the sailing lessons of greta Thunberg,but through the commitment and courage of Donald Trump.”
While national and international politics dominated much of the discourse, the proposed bridge over the Strait of Messina emerged as a unifying element for Salvini and his supporters. “We are the party of action, and we will build the bridge after the left has promised it for a century,” Salvini declared. Despite a recent setback from the Court of Auditors regarding the project, Salvini attempted to bolster support for the stable connection between Calabria and Sicily. He asserted, without detailing the mechanism, that the project would facilitate the return of thousands of Calabrians currently residing elsewhere in Italy.
Worth a look
