"I swear to be loyal to the Republic and to loyally observe its Constitution ”. This is the formula of the oath that the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella took in the early afternoon of today. A simple and essential formula declaimed a Montecitorio, with which the second seven-year period formally began with Mattarella at the helm of the nation. The head of state swore an oath before the Parliament met in joint session in the presence of the regional delegates who participated in the election a few days ago. The President of the Republic went to Palazzo Montecitorio escorted by the carabinieri on a motorcycle.
The departure from the Quirinale was marked by the Montecitorio bell. On his arrival at the Parliament building, he was welcomed on Speaker of the Chamber, Roberto Fico, and the President of the Senate, Maria Elisabetta Alberti Casellati. To greet him the long and warm applause of all present. At that point the bell stopped ringing and, in the hall, a unit of Carabinieri in full uniform paid him all the honors.
Loyalty to the Constitution
Once he reached the hall and the presidential desk, Fico declared the session open and invited the Head of State to take the oath, in accordance with Article 91 of the Constitution. The Montecitorio bell and 21 artillery salvos from the Janiculum announced the oath taking place. The President of the Republic then addressed the message to the nation. To pay him all the honors a unit of Corazzieri, in gala uniform. In piazza Montecitorio the band performed the national anthem. The head of state went through the lined up department of honor, before driving to the Altar of the Fatherland, a symbol of national unity, where he placed a laurel wreath on the tomb of the The Unknown Soldier. He was joined by the president of the council of ministers, Mario Draghi; in the background, to musically mark the ceremony, the song of the Piave. In the air, the sky of Rome is painted by the Frecce Tricolori in white, red and green.
The head of state went through the department of honor lined up, before driving to the Altar of the Fatherland, a symbol of national unity, where he placed a laurel wreath on the tomb of the The Unknown Soldier. He was joined by the president of the council of ministers, Mario Draghi; in the background, to musically mark the ceremony, the song of the Piave. In the air, coloring the sky of Rome with white, red and green Tricolor Arrows. At the foot of the Altare della Patria, the president received a greeting from the mayor of Rome Roberto Gualtieri. Finally Mattarella got on the historic Flaminia, the car of the presidency of the Republic, with which he returned to Quirinal.
The message to the Italians
After swearing allegiance to the Constitution, the head of state read a message addressed to the nation that those present in Parliament greeted with continuous and thunderous applause. Below is an excerpt from the 13th President of the Republic's greeting to the Italians.
"For me a new call that I cannot and did not intend to escape. I thank you, in this place where the popular will finds its highest expression. Thank you for your trust, by calling me for the second time, I will fulfill my duty according to the principles and norms of the Constitution. The letter and the spirit of ours Constitutional Charter they will continue to be the point of reference for all my actions.
We must give citizens a guarantee of rights, support and responses to their distress. There is profound political uncertainty in the country, which is committed to getting out of conditions of serious difficulty. Parliament ended troubled days last week, troubled for me too. This same awareness is the reason for my yes. Economic, health and social emergencies challenge us, we cannot afford delays, we are not allowed inattention.
This commitment joins that of the recovery for the construction of our future. The extraordinary commitment of our companies has allowed us to restart. But this recovery, in order not to be ephemeral, needs a leap in efficiency of the country-system. We are living in an extraordinary phase in which the political agenda is shared in Europe. We need to revive the economy in the context of the ecological transition. It takes dynamism, a common effort. We need to equip ourselves with new tools to secure our fellow citizens. We are all involved.
Thanks to those who guaranteed essential services in the most critical moments, especially during the pandemic. This is the horizon we have before us, we must begin to design and build post-emergency Italy: a fairer and more modern Italy. A country that grows in unity. Strengthening Italy means strengthening Europe: the contribution of our country cannot be missing. We are the hope, together we are the hope of our Republic. Long live the Republic, long live Italy! ".
(Photo Quirinale.it)
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