VIDEO | PHOTO | “Hold on, president”, crowd and applause for Mattarella
Applause, handshakes and signs for Mattarella, who today met the most vulnerable categories and their families
ROME – “Hold on, president, you are our history!“. Mattarella enters the Quirinale gardens open to the public on 2 June, Republic Day. This year the president decided to welcome the most fragile categories and their families, with various associations to accompany them. The applause starts immediately. He, accompanied by his daughter Laura, raises his hand and waves to everyone, around 1,800 citizens. He begins to shake hands and says very cordially: “Welcome, best wishes”. People wish him good luck in his work. He smiles graciously at anyone who holds out their hand.
“Long live president, thank you president“, and various applauses are heard at repeated intervals as the head of state and Laura Mattarella cross the gardens. A lady tells him: “Come on and protect us from people please, protect us“. He smiles for a long time and people shout at him: “Well done, Long live the president”.
The head of state stops to listen to the Mameli anthem played by the joint force band. He continues his journey and continues to shake hands. There is also the Red Cross who accompanies disabled people in wheelchairs, Mattarella affectionately places his hand on the shoulder of the youngest of them. The representatives of an association explain to him that the anthem was also sung by deaf children, “deaf children”, they underline. A particularly bold old woman approaches him closer than anyone and says in a firm tone and in a loud voice: “She still has to live for 100 years.” Mattarella is amused by the wish and replies: “It will be impossible but thank you, really.”
“Long live Italy, come on president, well done and good work”. Mattarella thanks everyone by saying: “Welcome and happy celebration”. A child waits for him to give him a letter written for him. He wanted to deliver it directly into the hands of the head of state and asked for an autograph as a souvenir. Mattarella writes an entire dedication to him. The elderly shout to him: “We adore him and we are the memory of the country. Long live our president. He will be very tired after a day like this”.
The applause continues thunderous as he passes through the courtyard of honor of the Quirinale. “Great President, Bravo Bravo.” He also shakes hands with the very young children in a foster home. The little hands get lost in those of the highest office in the state. And again: “Thank you for everything you do for us. Thank you for being our president. Give us strength, Long live the Republic, Long live Italy “. Kids and children, but also adults, compete to ask for a selfie. He lends himself.