RIETI (ITALPRESS) – A puppet depicting Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was set on fire last night during the “Freed Carnival” in Poggio Mirteto, Rieti province. A puppet depicting the premier was also burned last year. It is a tradition of the “Carnevalone liberato,” the origin of which dates back to 1861, to burn the puppet of the powerful person of the day each year.
“The puppet depicting President Giorgia Meloni and burned in Rieti in the anti-fascist carnival once again raises the issue of violence from the galaxy of the far left,” Andrea Delmastro delle Vedove, deputy of Fratelli d’Italia and Undersecretary for Justice, said in a note. “It is time for the PD to condemn acts of political violence without any more ambiguity. There can be no justification or extenuating circumstances for those who sow hatred and preach violence. The PD will strike a blow, clearly disassociate itself and firmly condemn the despicable and violent act. There is no alternative and the choice of camp is clear: either stand with the extremist galaxy of violence or defend the institutions, whoever they are represented by.”
Following the incident, numerous messages of sympathy were sent to the premier, such as that of the president of the Chamber of Deputies, Lorenzo Fontana, who expressed his solidarity with Meloni, recalling how it is “fundamental that the confrontation remain within the limits of mutual respect and civility, avoiding gestures that could appear as incitement to hatred and violence.”
“Incivility and hatred. Thus, and in no other way, can we qualify the act of those who set fire to a puppet depicting Giorgia Meloni at the Poggio Mirteto Carnival. Such acts cannot be part of our democracy. This is not the first time, unfortunately, that we have witnessed such violent drifts, which we strongly condemn, expressing full solidarity with the Prime Minister,” Forza Italia National Council president and governor of Sicily, Renato Schifani, said instead.
“We cannot fail to denounce this umpteenth act of violence,” Fratelli d’Italia House group leader Galeazzo Bignami also commented.” “It is clear that we are facing a climate of hatred made even more worrying by the timidity with which the left distances itself from these episodes, which instead should be firmly censured. We await clear words in this regard from Secretary Elly Schlein, because contestations and criticisms are always legitimate as long as these do not cross the boundaries of respect for the person and free democratic confrontation.”
– Photo Ipa Agency –
(ITALPRESS).
