"A phrase attributed to Garibaldi says: 'here you either make Italy or you die'. That's exactly how I think".
Giorgia Meloni comes to mention the hero of the two worlds in connection from Palazzo Chigi, at the end of the Milanese kermesse with which his party launches itself to conquer the Lombard regional elections.
The premier does not mention the controversies that have marked the last few hours, no mention of the real or presumed frictions with the allies or the complicated dossier on expensive petrol.
Hers is a speech full of pride, identity, a small balance of her first hundred days in government but also the relaunch of the strength of a project which, she is sure, will last 5 years.
She lets herself go only when she pronounces a sibylline passage: "" I hope and I am sure that we will have these five years available in front of us,
despite the opposition and beyond". But on the rest, Meloni's is a manifesto of commitment and optimism, an exhortation to her party to "think big, not just to manage the crisis". "When we are once we got to government - attacks the premier - there were those who thought that the markets would collapse, that we would be isolated.
Instead, things didn't go like this: the spread is at 182 points, the Stock Exchange did more than well".
All of this, in his opinion, has an explanation: "the difference - he adds - is our seriousness, the determination of this government that has no bosses. We - he insists - don't have to say thank you to anyone, we answer only to the Italian people, without necessary compromises, without slowness but with speed, with an underlying vision".
And here comes the second stake of his reasoning: the absolute value of stability.
Meloni admits that there will be moments "exhilarating as well as some less positive", but the real primacy of this executive will be its stability, its time horizon of the entire legislature: "There is no day and there is no time - he assures - in which we don't put all of ourselves into this commitment: we will do what needs to be done, with courage and determination.
But to me - this is the gist of his speech - I'm interested in knowing the economic data, the birth rate, productivity in 5 years.
I promise that my goal is to leave this country better than I found it". Among future prospects and programmes, he confirms that presidential reform "remains a priority", a commitment undertaken with the Italians that "will be honoured". it's time for details. by the Lombard coordinator, Daniela Santanchè.A match, the premier is keen to point out, who is very dear to the Brothers of Italy:
The response of the vote in Lombardy is very important.
It is an opportunity to demonstrate how we can do better, returning to having the same vision in Lombardy as in the government".
"I want to thank all those present, the ruling class of the party. Our adventure has just begun,
the response from Lombardy is very important"
, added Meloni.
"Ready, candidates to go".
"It is an opportunity to demonstrate how to get better: we can go back to having the same vision in Lombardy as in the government".
The premier
also quotes Garibaldi:
"I remember that phrase attributed to Garibaldi: Italy is built here or you die, I think so".
Government, Meloni quotes Garibaldi: 'Here Italy is made or one dies'
Three ministers took turns during the long event, Lollobrigida, Santanchè and Sangiuliano, the President of the Senate, and many leaders, including from allied parties, in addition to the candidate for President Attilio Fontana.
The objective, substantially achieved, was to leave the Roman disagreements behind and make it clear that in Lombardy there is a coalition "united as one man", as Santanchè often repeated.
Hand in hand, also, illustrate the battles that FdI is waging in the government: Lollobrigida spoke of his fight to defend Made in Italy in Agriculture, Santanchè of his measures against the crisis that has hit hoteliers in the snowless Apennines.
And Sangiuliano his efforts to relaunch and enhance our museum heritage.
The most thunderous applause went to Ignazio La Russa.
"