In the hall of the General Aviation Terminal, where Giorgia Meloni and Ursula von der Leyen landed helicopterthere is the Minister of European Affairs Rafael Fitto and there is the president of Emilia-Romagna, Stefano Bonaccini, whom the prime minister thanks for his “presence, availability and attention”. But when one of the 130 accredited information operators asks if the governor will be a commissioner for reconstruction, the Prime Minister hardens: «It has caught my attention that this is the debate that interests you when the funerals of the victims».
sharp words, which confirms how high is the agitation in the government about the possibility of an appointment that does not convince a part of the government, starting with matthew salvini. “When the time comes for reconstruction, we will deal with the commissioner. The prime minister freezes the election. Right now, my main problem. it’s not who spends the moneybut find them.” It’s not a real press conference, so another journalist has to raise his voice to be heard from behind and remind Meloni that several majority governors are also pushing for Bonaccini to be commissioned. And she, without backing down: “It also applies to center-right governors.”
“Wait”
Giorgia Meloni and the President of the European Commission arrive at the airport after flew over the wastelands from the fury of the water and the landslides. For the prime minister it is a return, four days after the inspection last Sunday, for the guest of honor who came from Brussels it is the first time. Do you want to send «a very clear message» of closeness and sweetly ventures an expression in Romagna, waits: «tin boot… Europe cries with you, we are by your side». Von der Leyen’s gaze fell on Conselice sunk in the mud, on the orchards cut between Forlì and Faenza, on the roads swallowed up on the outskirts of Ravenna and then on Modigliana, Lavezzola, Casola Valsenio, Castel Bolognese, Bagnacavallo, Lugo. «he broke my heart – admits the EU leader – it was heartbreaking and very useful to see how deep are the scars of entire underwater territories, the damage, the devastation, the diversification of the problems to be faced”.
Press Meloni, remember that it will take “substantial resources” to get back on track, and it will take “a special eye» by the Union, on the solidarity fund and on any other possible instrument. The President of the Commission, who is now clear about the proportions of the emergency, shows Meloni informal closeness and he does not want to disappoint the expectations of Rome.
“The most appropriate means of support is the solidarity fund and it is very urgent to activate it,” acknowledges von der Leyen, explaining that it will be allocated a small contribution standardized for each disaster and in three monthswhen the extent of the damage is clear, the real money will come. But that is not all. There is the emergency fund for agriculture, there are cohesion funds “to fall back on” and, looking to the future, in next generation EU “We have six billion for the flood and earthquake prevention». In the meantime, Italy “will do its part”, confirms the Prime Minister and claims the already allocated package and the additional 200 million from the emergency fund dedicated to “more complex situations” in Emilia-Romagna: “A very significant signal. I don’t know how many that has happened other times in 48-72 hours Have been found 2,200 million to attend the emergency».
The symbol photo
Meloni makes a slip, calls Fitto “president” and then jokes about it: “I assure everyone that it is not a candidacy”. The symbolic photo was taken that portrays Meloni, von der Leyen and Bonaccini with their hands together, as if to sign a pact to “work together”, the prime minister flies to Rome for the Council of Ministers. Von der Leyen continues the journey, accompanied by the Governor. in Cesena, received by the young mayor dem Enzo Lattucathe lady in pink shakes hands with rescuers and volunteers, asks about the extent of landslides, he is moved by the stories of the displaced and for the solidarity of the mud angels. In via ex Tirassegno, she embraces the family of the three-year-old boy rescued by his neighbor and at every step promises moral and financial closeness and structural support: «I stayed very impressed by your courage».
“My Romagna”
A scene confirms it. The president is already in the blue car to run to the airport when she sees dozens of people chanting “my romana» they shout «Thank you Úrsula» and wave at her. Von der Leyen stops the procession official, gets out of the car and, for the second time, closes the distance: «I only came here to say tin boot». Wait, Emilia-Romagna.
