European Championships, Vannacci at the last mile: “Sunday free chops and burp”
The words of the general, candidate of the League, on the occasion of the closing of the campaign in Rome
ROME – More than the world, playlists on the contrary. It’s strange to wait for a rally by Vannacci and Salvini with a soundtrack tuned to the left. In Piazza Santi Apostoli, ‘Generale’ by Francesco De Gregori plays from the loudspeakers and then two pacifist anthems, children of the American counterculture: ‘Give peace a chance’ by John Lennon and ‘Blowing’ in the wind’ by Bob Dylan. “I love Guccini”, assures Vannacci as he arrives under the stage. The square is half empty, perhaps a thousand people. “Now he opens the restricted traffic zone and it fills up”, prophesies Francesco Storace. He will be wrong. The former AN colonel has been flirting with Salvini for some time. They say that the deputy prime minister and his spokesperson have lost the number of phone calls they receive from the former governor of Lazio. There is also another piece of that story: Andrea Ronchi, Minister of EU Policies in Berlusconi IV.
Meanwhile, here is Vecchioni, Annalisa, Max Pezzali, i Ricchi e Poveri, Venditti, ‘Sapore di sale’. In the square the average age is quite high, lots of flags and two maxi banners cleverly placed a few meters from the stage so that you can’t see that there are few people behind. Mixed among the militants is Claudio Borghi, the senator who on June 2 asked for Mattarella’s resignation. Who knows if his ears don’t ring when Lorenzo Cesa, the secretary of the UDC who has concluded an electoral agreement with the League, speaks from the stage. “It was an electoral campaign with bright, harsh tones. There were even attacks on the Quirinale…”. The rope in the hanged man’s house.
Claudio Durigon opens the rally. “Ciao Romaaaaaaa”, like a seasoned rock star. The microphone, however, is turned off, who knows what those at the back understand. Roberto Sorcinelli, representative of the Liberal Party, introduces him, with whom the League has another agreement for the European elections. “Environmentalism is the new communism – he says – today the communists are eco communists”. Shortly before, Vannacci, speaking on TV, had invited us to “negotiate with Putin, who is no worse than Stalin”. The Northern League members always have a thought for Russia.
Valditara, Calderoli, Morelli, Angelucci show up. The editor deputy will leave while Salvini speaks. Slowly he leaves the square, escorted, to the BMW that awaits him parked in the middle of Via Cesare Battisti, practically Piazza Venezia. He gets into the driving seat, his great passion, gets into first gear and off he goes.
The membership stand gives anyone who registers (10 euros) a bracelet, sticker, bag and backpack: “More Italy, less Europe”. On stage Vannacci is greeted by a roar. “On Saturday and Sunday vote with a tithe”, is the refrain. Salvini plays military: “We have a captain and a general, but you are the infantry. Saturday and on Sunday the great and beautiful surprise of these European elections will be the League, with all due respect to the owls. Anyone who doesn’t vote on Saturday and Sunday is an accomplice: man, woman, fluid, asterisk.” We end up with Salvini on stage signing books and taking selfies. Vannacci is below, having his photo taken too. It resists the embrace of the fans for a long time. When he leaves, he breathes a sigh of relief: “It’s almost over. Then on Sunday evening I’ll stay at home, free chops and burps.” Finally a Northern League member.