“Italy is a major international player. Social cohesion at risk”. President Mattarella’s end-of-year speech

Wars, tensions. Prices. Hot squares. Various fears. “A difficult year is coming to an end”, says Sergio Mattarella, but we will still make it, we are a great country. “Our strength is the social cohesion which has allowed us to grow. Our Italy is a very important player on the international scene, ours is a success story in the world”. But now we need “everyone’s commitment”, explains the president, including those of you who are following me from home.

Standing for just twenty minutes in front of the flags, so as not to disturb the Italians’ dinner too much. Simple, direct words, because he already spoke at the Palace before Christmas and this is not a speech for politics. it is for citizens who are facing cotechini, lentils and everyday problems. Here they are: “Old and new poverty, inequalities, injustices, behaviors that harm the collective good, such as corruption and fiscal infidelity”. The wall of democracy, built with blood and defended for eighty years, holds, “however it is never a definitively acquired asset”, there are “cracks that risk compromising social cohesion”: from political clashes to the economy up to the attitude towards technological giants and new authoritarianisms. So people, vote, participate, make yourselves heard, especially the kids. “No one can declare themselves exempt. Someone describes you as suspicious, detached, angry. Don’t give up, be demanding and courageous. Choose your future”

Of course, there is a lot to do, although “no obstacle is stronger than our democracy”. Next to us, in Europe, there are deaths and devastation, a sovereign country attacked, “Ukrainian cities bombed, children and old people left in the cold”, just as people are suffering in Gaza”. Scenes that we never thought we would relive, and here we recall the history of the Republic which has thrived on peace and justice.

The Constitution displayed on the desk as the cornerstone, even now that a season of contested reforms is opening. Not bad. “The legitimate dialectics between the various positions have contributed to concrete achievements”. Don’t worry, “we can face the challenges of the time with serenity”.