PERUGIA – At Palazzo dei Priori there were a handful of minutes left until 6pm when, on the giant screen installed in the atrium, the result appeared with the data of all 159 electoral sections. An applause, a few hugs and a shout: “Mayor victory.” Within a short time, with car horns immediately starting to be heard from Via Baglioni, more and more people gathered in the heart of the acropolis. Until, in less than an hour and defying the rain that was felt at times, the section of Corso Vannucci in front of Palazzo dei Priori and then Piazza IV Novembre was filled. These were the first moments in the historic center yesterday, where the new centre-left mayor, Vittoria Ferdinandi, was celebrated by hundreds of people.
FLAGS AND CHORTS “Mayor Victory” signs, chants (above all Bella ciao) and many flags sticking out of umbrellas. The rainbow ones from the Omphalos, some all red, a couple with a hammer and sickle and a tricolor with a star. Then those of the student movements. The party finally exploded when Vittoria Ferdinandi arrived in front of the Municipality headquarters at around 7pm. Immediately overwhelmed with hugs, pats on the back, smiles. Many exponents of the centre-left are waiting for her: from Tommaso Bori, regional secretary of the Democratic Party, to Giacomo Leonelli (Pensa Perugia). Then the former mayor of Magione Giacomo Chiodini, the mayor of Spoleto Andrea Sisti, Sarah Bistocchi former group leader of the Democratic Party and many councilors from the area who supported Ferdinandi. “This will once again become everyone’s palace,” she said as soon as she set foot inside Palazzo dei Priori. In the hall, speaking to the press, you said that you wanted to dedicate the victory “to all the mothers, daughters, friends who were the backbone of the campaign”. But “first of all I dedicate it to my mother”. Then she added: “I say this with the greatest emotion, I will be the first female mayor of this city.” Some children then gave her a small banner, made with some sheets joined together, with her surname written. Then Ferdinandi, accompanied by some members of her staff and some members of the police force, also climbed the internal stairs of the Municipality, for a “quick tour”, as was said by those who were trying to manage the moment in an orderly manner . She then left the side of the Sala dei Notari, where she spoke to a packed square.
A FULL SQUARE «This is the victory of the true soul of Perugia, a soul that seeks the beauty and hope that we will be able to restore. They continue to tell us that Perugia will be in the hands of the forces of evil, but Perugia is in the hands of a policy that will be the policy of everyone.” This is the promise that Ferdinandi made to the many who celebrated the outcome of the ballot in Piazza IV Novembre. «From today, Perugia wants to start writing a new chapter of a new future. I can only thank the city for continuing to believe in us. In recent months – he said again speaking from the steps of the Sala dei Notari – I have seen you fight like lions and lionesses, this is not just an electoral result. This is the victory of the true soul of our city. They tried to bury us under hatred, lies, exploitation, and instead Perugia has shown that it has a soul that cannot be subdued by the arrogance of power.” “You Perugia chose me – Ferdinandi said again – and you chose me despite the hatred they threw at us.”
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