“Independence and freedom are values that must be defended every day”. The reflection of the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella as part of the celebrations of 2 June, which this year celebrates the 68th anniversary of the birth of the Italian Republic, starts from this starting point.
The ceremony opened this morning in Rome with the solemn flag-raising at the Altare della Patria and the homage to the Unknown Soldier, where President Mattarella himself laid a laurel wreath. Present in Piazza Venezia, among others, were Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, the presidents of the Senate and Chamber Ignazio La Russa and Lorenzo Fontana, and the Minister of Defense Guido Crosetto.
President Mattarella – “Celebrate the seventy-eight years of the birth of the Italian Republic – explained Mattarella in a message to the Chief of Defense Staff, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone – recalls the values of our identity and of a far-sighted and wise Constitution, the result of the extraordinary rebirth that began with the Liberation struggle. Independence and freedom are achievements that must be defended every day, in communion of intent and with the ability to cooperate for the common good”.
The Head of State then, before participating in the celebrations which also involved the Frecce Tricolori, spoke about the importance of the Fathers of the Homeland. “The Fathers of the Fatherland were aware of the risks and limits of closure in national contexts and dreamed of an Italy open to Europe, close to the peoples who were fighting for their freedoms everywhere in the world. Our contribution, and in it the Armed Forces, to the cause of international peace and stability is more precious than ever in today’s situation characterized by devastation and aggression against civilian populations in Europe and the Middle East”.
Meloni’s statements – “We are in an election campaign for the European elections – explained Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni – and this celebration also reminds us of the first idea of Europe, which was an idea of Europe that imagined that its strength, the strength of its union, was also the strength and specificity of national states. Perhaps we should return to that embryonic European idea and European dream. This is a celebration of extraordinary importance. Also very important for this phase, because we are in a situation in which many certainties are in question, such as peace, and we need the Republic, the State, the Nation, to face them responsibly”.
