Mattarella, the end-of-year speech live – Corriere.it

«Dear fellow citizens, a year ago, addressing you on this occasion, I defined the previous seven years as demanding and complex. It was also the past year, so full of important political and institutional events». With these words, at 20:30 today, the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella began his usual end-of-the-year message (here the analysis of the seven previous speeches).

The first female premier, “a novelty of great significance”

The head of state devoted the first few minutes of his speech (here the full text) to a summary of the decisive moments of 2022. Starting with the political ones, including the elections: «The clear electoral result», he said, “allowed the rapid birth of the new government, led, for the first time, by a woman”. For Mattarella, it was «a novelty of great social and cultural significance, which had been ripe for some time in our country». A few minutes after the end of the year-end message, a note arrives from Palazzo Chigi: «During a phone call to the President of the Republic, which followed the New Year’s message, the Prime Minister expressed his gratitude for the encouragement to govern with the responsibility that the difficulty of the moment demands, after the general elections which for the first time see a woman at the head of the Government”.

The “global challenges” and the Constitution as a compass

In his speech, Mattarella also spoke of the pandemic, war, climate change, migration phenomena, the energy and food crisis. Global challenges – as the president defines them – which force everyone (starting with the political forces) to “recognize the complexity” and “exercise responsibility for the choices”. Inevitable reference to the “Spirit of the Constitution”entered into force 75 years ago. According to the president, it «remains our compass, respecting it is our primary duty; mine too”.

The war and the hope: “May 2023 be the year of the end of hostilities”.

«We are waiting to welcome the new year but even in these hours our thoughts cannot turn away from the war that is bloodying our continent. 2022 was the year of the crazy war unleashed by the Russian Federation. The response from Italy, Europe and the West was full support for the attacked country and for the Ukrainian people, who are courageously defending their freedom and rights», the president continued. Then the wish: “If this was the year of the war, we must concentrate our efforts so that 2023 is the year of the end of hostilities, of the silence of the weapons, of the cessation of this inhuman trail of blood, of deaths, of suffering”. “Peace”, recalls the president, “is a founding part of European identity”.

Condolences for Benedict XVI

After recalling that “Pope Francis constantly urges peace”, the president addressed the pontiff directly, to express to him – “with great affection” and gratitude – the Italy’s heartfelt condolences for the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. Then Mattarella goes back to talking about the war. «We feel deep sadness for the many human lives lost and because, every day, houses, hospitals, schools, theaters are destroyed, transforming cities and towns into a pile of ruins. Immense quantities of financial resources are burned for armaments which, if destined for world hunger, the fight against disease or poverty, would be a relief for humanity”, said the president, who specified: “The responsibility lies entirely with on those who attacked and not on those who defend themselves or on those who help them defend themselves”.

The new generations

Despite everything, however, Mattarella’s exhortation is clear: «We do not resign ourselves to this present. This cannot be the future. Hope for peace is also founded on the rejection of a vision that makes history go back”. The “strength of freedom” and the “will to affirm the civilization of rights” are, the president observes, rooted “in the hearts of women and men”. Especially to those of the new generations. The explicit reference is to the «youth of Iranwith their courage», but also to «gives afghan who fight for their freedom” and to the “russian guys who defy repression to say no to war”.

The invitation to strengthen the NHS

“The last few years have been tough”, acknowledges the president, who cites social tensions, fractures, poverty; but also the aftermath of Covid “unfortunately not yet definitively defeated”. From all these challenges, Mattarella recalls, “we have learned lessons not to be forgotten”. Like the importance of science, civil institutions and “concrete solidarity”. And it is with concreteness that the president invites us to “work so that the irreplaceable garrison of unity of the country represented by the National Health Service is strengthened, increasingly placing the person and his concrete needs at the centre, in the area in which he lives”.

Poverty

It is not the only exhortation of the president. In the speech, Mattarella also speaks of inflation and rising energy costs, but above all of poverty. “Lack of work takes away rights and dignity”he explains, “the price we pay for unemployment and precariousness is still too high”. The president expresses particular concern about child poverty, which has quadrupled since the beginning of the global crisis in 2008 to today. Then he refers to the Constitution, which, he recalls, “prescribes that the Republic must remove the economic and social obstacles that harm the rights of peopletheir full realization. Without distinction”.

“The Republic is all of us”

A collective duty. Because «We are all the Republic. Together”. «The Republic, our homeland, is made up of women and men who are committed to their families», recalls Mattarella, who continues: «The Republic is in the civic sense of those who pay taxes because this serves to make the Italy», but also «in the sacrifice of those who, wearing a uniform, risk to guarantee the safety of all», «in the fatigue of those who work and in the anxiety of those looking for work», «in the commitment of those who study», “in the spirit of solidarity of those who care for their neighbour”. The president thus draws a sort of collective portrait of the country, recalling its positive elements, thanks to which, even in the darkest months of the pandemic, “Italy resisted and achieved results that lead to confidence”as demonstrated by “the significant economic growth that occurred in 2021 and 2022”. “There are concrete reasons that nourish our hope but a view of the horizon is needed, a vision of the future,” Mattarella points out.

“Reject change? An illusion»

“We must stay in our time, not in the past, with intelligence and passion,” exhorts the president. To do this, he explains, «we have to change the way we interpret reality. We must learn to read the present with the eyes of tomorrow». Mattarella warns everyone: “rejecting change” and “giving up on modernity” is not just a mistake, but a real “illusion”. «Innovation must be interpreted to improve our living conditions, but it cannot be removed. The challenge, rather, is to plan tomorrow with courage». Starting, inevitably, from the Planet. That is, from energy. “Securing the planet, and therefore our future, means above all tackling the issue of energy transition concretely”explains the head of state. “The complex work that is required to move from traditional sources, polluting and harmful to health and the environment, to renewable energies, represents the new frontier of our economic systems”.

He Pnrr

But the environmental question is not the only one to be decisive. “The other change we are experiencing, and whose scope we probably still struggle to understand, concerns the digital transformation”, continues Mattarella, who also dwells on the technology (“Adequate choices need to be made, promoting a digital culture that guarantees citizens’ freedoms”) and on training (“The third major investment in the future is that of school, university, scientific research: that’s where we prepare the protagonists of tomorrow’s world”). With a final exhortation: «The National Recovery and Resilience Plan pushes Italy towards these goals. We cannot afford to miss this opportunity.”.

Too many deaths on the roads

In closing, before the traditional greetings, the president explicitly addresses young people: «Too many young people lose their lives at night in car accidents, due to speed, lightness, consumption of alcohol or drugs. When you drive, your life and the lives of others are in your hands». “Do not destroy it for a moment of imprudence”, exhorts Mattarella, “do not cancel your future”.

Looking to tomorrow

Finally, the wish that the president addresses to all citizens: «Let’s look to tomorrow with a new look. Let’s look to tomorrow with the eyes of young people. We look at their faces, we gather their hope. Let’s make them ours. Let’s ensure that the future of the younger generations is not only what remains of the present but is the result of an exercise of conscience on our part”. «The Republic», recalls Mattarella, «lives on everyone’s participation. This is the meaning of the freedom guaranteed by our democracy. This is above all the reason why we have faith. Best wishes!”