“I left here in ’99 and I return here wearing the tricolor sash. It’s beautiful”

Bergamo. It is 5.15pm on Tuesday 11 June when the President of the Court of Bergamo Cesare De Sapia officially proclaims Elena Carnevali mayor of Bergamo. A ceremony held in the Hall of Mirrors, at Palazzo Frizzoni, in the presence of the new first citizen of the capital and Giorgio Gori, newly elected parliamentarian in Brussels. The reading of the legislation which sanctions the official investiture and immediately after the passing of the baton. Gori passes the tricolor sash to Carnevali who, excited, wears it. A gesture that cements the victory in the first round over the opponent Andrea Pezzottawhich is worth the large result achieved yesterday, Monday 10 June.

“Behind the elections that concluded on Monday, there is the effort and sweat of our judges who presided over the polls – so De Sapia -. I’m very happy to see Elena here. I think there is a particular sensitivity in her. And the applause you just gave her is a great proof of human warmth.”

“I first wore this headband 10 years ago, and I have always worn it with emotion – like this Gori -. Bergamo finally has its first mayor, something we all hoped for from the first moment. Here, today, there are many of whom have personally committed themselves to this election. And some of them will certainly be part of the next council.”

Visibly emotional, the new mayor of Bergamo recounted the feelings that have accompanied her in these 24 hours since her election: “You can only imagine how great, how enormous, my emotion is. I will always work in close collaboration with the entire City Council, both with the majority and with the minority. I will wear this armband with discipline and honor.”

Then it’s as if her political career passes before her in one moment. And her emotion returns: “I left here in 1999 and now I’m returning as mayor. Wearing this headband is beautiful”. The real physical settlement at Palazzo Frizzone will soon take place: “We are giving Giorgio (Gori ed.) time to clear out his office. After all, there are ten years of work and a piece of Bergamo’s history there. The convocation of the first municipal council will also start in a few days and will be held in about ten days.

It was a truly extraordinary outcome for the numbers and the distance. And I honestly didn’t expect it. Which fills me with pride but also with responsibility towards the city and the citizens. And I can guarantee right now that I will be everyone’s mayor, even those who didn’t vote for me. When I saw the results of the exit polls I was surprised. That’s when I started to realize that I could win in the first round, the goal I’ve been working towards since the beginning.

I thank very much the citizens who supported me from the first moment. I really feel this warmth and this relationship that has been created. I will try to reciprocate the trust they have placed in me with the work and commitment that will never fail. In the next few days I will hand over power with Gori and I will continue to study as I did during this electoral campaign”.

Today, Gori will be in Brussels. A return trip in the same day, a sort of “inspection” to take measurements and do general rehearsals in view of the first call set for July 16th.