After Cesena, Sergio Mattarella arrives in Ravenna, the city where the suburbs were flooded by rivers and canals for several days. “His presence here is the best thanks from the state,” said the mayor of Ravenna Michele de Pascale to the president Sergio Mattarella. “In addition to compensation, we ask for the necessary works to avoid the effects of climate change” added the mayor. De Pascale explained that 60 square kilometers were flooded, and that with the preventive evacuation about 32,000 people were removed from their homes. “We did everything possible with teamwork and a heroic spirit – said the mayor – Slovenia, Slovakia, France and Belgium also helped us. The water returned to its banks, affecting many territories but saving the city” . “You will return as before, your products are indispensable” he said Mattarella to a representative of Coldiretti who gave him some products from the Ravenna countryside affected by the flood two weeks ago. The head of state was given a basket with local fruit and oil: “We are affected but we react, we are always working but we also need your help”, said a young farmer. “I well imagine the tension of those hours and days when there was no rest, no break. The effort must have been really huge. The climatic conditions are increasingly worrying and our country will have to worry about organizing preventive defenses for phenomena of this kind, more than has happened up to now”. Said the president of the republic, Sergio Mattarella, speaking from Ravenna. “This is a territory of great importance for Italy, not only for its size, for the history for the liveliness of the urban fabric and the agricultural districts. All of this requires a quick, immediate restart, without breaks. Naturally with the help of all the institutions starting from the central one, with the help already programmed by the government which is demanding and important. We must ensure that there are no feelings of surrender, of abandonment” specified the head of state.
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Mattarella in Cesena, volunteers give him a vest with the words ‘tin bota’
Mattarella then reached Lugo di Romagna, another center that suffered major flooding two weeks ago. Welcomed by the mayor Davide Ranalli, as well as by the president of the province and mayor of Ravenna Michele de Pascale, Mattarella visited the ‘Rossini’ theater, which suffered damage due to the water: ‘It will return as before’ .
Finally, the President of the Republic reaches Faenza, the last stage of his journey. In the hall of the municipal council, the mayors of the territory await him, in the tricolor band. In addition to the mayor of Faenza, Massimo Isola, also Matteo Lepore, mayor of Bologna and Luca Vecchi, mayor of Reggio Emilia and regional Anci president of Emilia-Romagna. In Faenza, the Lamone flooded during the night between 16 and 17 May, and the water entered the historic centre, stopping a few tens of meters from the square. “You don’t have to be afraid of being alone. You won’t be”. President Sergio Mattarella said this when speaking to the mayors of Romagna from Faenza. The head of state added that he will work to ensure that “full reconstruction is guaranteed
The President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella arrived in Cesena to meet the volunteers, who at the Don Milani school have set up a collection center for basic necessities for the victims of the flood. The president was welcomed by the mayor Enzo Lattuca and by the president of the Region Stefano Bonaccini. Then he stopped to greet the children in the school courtyard, where a banner was displayed with the inscription ‘I care’, the motto of civic engagement dear to the prior of Barbiana to whom the school is dedicated. “I have no words to thank you. What you have done is of extraordinary importance, it is an example of solidarity and common commitment and generous availability”. With these words, the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella addressed some volunteers and rescue workers. One of them gave the head of state a uniform, an orange jacket: “This is a tribute, it’s a protection for all of us and we want to share it with you,” he said. The head of state was also given a yellow vest used by those who provide aid, with the inscription ‘tin bota’, the encouragement in Romagna dialect which became the slogan of the resistance after the flood. The volunteers of the sorting center at the ‘don Milani’ school in Cesena gave it to the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella: “His presence encourages us,” they said.
Mattarella in Emilia-Romagna, applause and ovations in Forli’: ‘You will not be alone’
“All of Italy is close to you and you will not be alone in the reconstruction which must be fast”. President Sergio Mattarella said so speaking from Forlì. “This is a square that has seen many important moments and this is a challenging and difficult moment. I have seen how much there is to recover with courage and commitment and I know that you will succeed because this is the will of these districts. All of Italy it is close to you and you will not be alone in the reconstruction which must be fast. There is a need for it to be relaunched. It is a national need and you can be sure that there will be all the constant support”. President Sergio Mattarella said so speaking from Forlì. “This is a challenging, difficult time. I have seen many wounds of the territory. I know well how much, as regards many houses, many companies, the streets, it is to be taken up again with courage and decision to relaunch common life” specified Mattarella, speaking from Forlì.
Mattarella in Emilia-Romagna, first stop in Modigliana
Mass of crowds for the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella who chose the little Modigliana as the first stop on his visit to Romagna, to bear witness to the solidarity of the State with the flooded lands. In the village devastated by landslides, the Head of State walks the streets of the historic center together with the mayor Jader Dardi, who shows him the damaged areas in a tricolor band. During the tour through the streets of the town, Mattarella greeted citizens who gave him applause and ovations. Before arriving he had flown over the area.
The President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella is in Piazza Saffi in Forlì for the first institutional meeting of his day in the areas of Romagna affected by the floods and some children welcome him by singing the anthem of these areas ‘Romagna Mia’. School groups with colored caps wave tricolor flags, show placards and drawings they have prepared to greet the Head of State. “Romagna mia” and “Tin bota” are some of the writings that return to the heart of Forlì, two weeks after the flood.
THE CONTROVERSY – “I am happy that the President of the Republic is also in the flooded areas today, as the whole government has done and as the Prime Minister has done twice. It is a pity that today there is no one from the government to explain the critical issues to the Head of State, no one has been invited. It doesn’t matter, the important thing is to get results”. Thus the Minister of Civil Protection and Marine Policies, Nello Musumeci, to Rainews24. To those who asked him why in Emilia Romagna with Sergio Mattarella there is no government representative, Musumeci replied: “I don’t know, he wasn’t invited.” “The President of the Republic does not impose the presence of government officials on visits to Italian territories. Moreover, it is always appreciated by President Mattarella. It has always been like this, since the beginning of the first seven years”. Thus the Quirinale press adviser Giovanni Grasso replies to those who ask him about the controversy of Minister Nello Musumeci on a failed invitation to the government. “The Quirinale on such occasions does not has ever made invitations. But if anyone wants to come, they’re welcome.”
The Head of State will reach the village of the Forlì Apennines where the mayor Jader Dardi and the citizens will be waiting for him, then he will be in Forlì, to meet the volunteers who have worked in the emergency and the day will end in the afternoon with the mayors of the area in Faenza, where the water of the Lamone invaded various areas of the historic centre, during the night between 16 and 17 May. But during the day there will be other stops and meetings with the population: probably Cesena, Lugo, Ravenna. “I think it is a beautiful message to the people and populations because the President of the Republic enjoys esteem, respect, for all that he has been able to demonstrate and is demonstrating”, said the president of the Emilia-Romagna Region, Stefano Bonaccini. “I have to thank him – he continued – last year on the tenth anniversary of the earthquake, coming to Medolla and then to Finale Emilia, in the two epicenters of the two shocks of 20 and 29 May, he said ‘Italy must be grateful to Emilia , to Emilia-Romagna and its people for what they have shown”. We had an exemplary reconstruction and now we want to do the same thing”.
Mattarella has announced that he will donate the sum linked to the Paul VI Prize to the John XXIII Community, founded by Don Oreste Benzi in the Rimini area, and to its shelters affected by the floods. The visit of the President of the Republic comes after that of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on May 21 and that of the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen on May 25. “For our community – says Dardi, mayor of Modigliana – it assumes a value of great importance for the rebirth and reconstruction of the infrastructures of our Municipality.
Source: Ansa
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