Meloni campaigns in Florence Amidst Protests and Left-Right sparring
Florence became a focal point of political activity on the final day โbefore electoral silence, with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni holding a rally amidst demonstrations and pointed exchanges with opposition leaders. The event, held in Piazzaโ dell’Indipendenza, saw Meloni โขaddress supporters while a counter-protest organized by USB, social centers,โฃ and young Palestinians โmarched nearby.
During her speech, Meloni referenced aโ controversial statement made during the regional campaign, stating, “bornโ to overturn the predictions andโ we will do it here too”, and described the rally locationโฃ as “a great social center.” She also โcriticized politicalโ rhetoric sheโ perceived as condescending towards Italian voters,citing the example of claimsโ like: “ifโข you vote for me in โฃthe Marcheโ you will have the state of Palestine.”
Meloni attributed recent progress in theโฃ Middleโ East towards peace to the effortsโข ofโ former US President Donald Trump, stating, “Peace is not signed neitherโฃ for Landini, nor for Albanese who insultsโฃ Segre, nor for Greta withโ the Flotilla. There is one person to thank, Trump, president of the USA, republican.” โขShe also defended Israeli Prime Minister โขBenjamin Netanyahu,claiming โpeace in Gaza “is alsoโ due to what some considerโฃ to be a criminal,who is Bibi Netanyahu,” and rebuked a rally attendee displaying a โ”pro-Pal” flag.
Deputyโข Prime Minister antonio Tajani appealed to โcentrist voters, warning that the opposition consisted โ”only the โleft left”โฃ wich is “increasingly โฃdominated by the 5 โฃstars.” โคHe also criticized recent pro-Palestine demonstrations,characterizing participants as “daddy’s boys” โขwho “took itโค out on the children of the people,who are the carabinieri,the โpolicemen and theโฃ financiers.” A banner reading “Vote Draghi” (referencing Alessandro, a candidateโค for โFratelli d’Italia)โ caused confusionโค amongst attendees.
Simultaneously occurring,oppositionโ leaders also campaigned in Florence. Matteo Renzi, โaddressing Meloni directly โคin Piazzaโ Strozzi, criticized โฃthe state of the Italian economy, stating, “The country is at a standstill, the โdebt is growing, enough rhetoric.” renzi aims for his Italia Viva-casa โparty โto becomeโฃ the second-largest โคcoalition after the Democratic Party.
The tuscan regionalโค election is seen as crucial for the centre-left, following โฃlosses in theโค Marche and Calabria. Governor Eugenio Giani is โcentral toโ thier hopes for a comeback, receiving support from Democratic Party Secretary elly Schlein, who applauded his “courage” in enacting regional laws and his “goodโ governance.” โSchlein emphasized the need โคtoโ solidify the progressive alliance in both regional and national elections to โchallenge the right.
Florence Mayor โขSara Funaro responded โto Meloni’s โขrally, stating, “It’s the first time I’ve seen her in Florence, my hope is โthat she can return outside of rallies,” and accusing โฃthe โฃright of treatingโค voters “like imbeciles.”
Five Star Movement leader Giuseppe Conte โmet with Giani in Scandicci, a meeting arranged with Schlein as a gesture of mediation, despite lingering reservations within the โFive Star Movement regarding Giani’s presence. The meeting concluded with aโ handshake โand a commitment toโ collaborateโข for five years.
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