Democracy is not just based on rules,
it needs to be nourished on a daily basis through the
participation of citizens and through mutual respect, President
Sergio Mattarella is expected to say in his traditional end of
year live TV address to Italians on Tuesday night.
The message, whose content was partly anticipated by the
Quirinale presidential office, will be broadcast live on all TV
channels at 8:30 pm.
It will urge Italians to reflect on the principles and values
steeped in the national collective conscience as they gear up
for the New Year's Eve festivities
Quirinale sources said the speech, Mattarella's 10th end of year
address, will aim straight to the heart of Italians, rising
above specific partisan political matters but without renouncing
key ethical issues.
The president has been urging citizens to participate in
elections for years, and he has consistently reminded
communities that they are strong when members acknowledge each
other, when they are supportive and united and if they deal with
problems while keeping tempers low.
The president is expected to recall that 2024 was a difficult
year with, in addition to the war in Ukraine, the Middle Eastern
crisis, following images of violent massacres, from the one in
Israel on October 7, 2023 to Gaza and Beirut.
Peace will be an unavoidable topic - without demagogy.
The head of State is set to outline the need to find a path to
reach a peace that can't be represented by the sterilization of
conflict but needs to defend rights and restore justice.
And along with the shadows cast by this year's conflicts and
tensions, Mattarella is expected to infuse hope and confidence
in the things that work and in the ability of a cohesive and
fair community to be a true promoter of growth.
The president will also not fail to list the issues that need to
be worked out at home and the 2024 list will not differ greatly
from the past, Quirinale sources said.
It is expected to include security and the high number of
work-related deaths, the instability of the labour market and
the difficulties faced by young people who are forced to look
for job opportunities abroad, as well as the seemingly
unstoppable plague of femicides.
Mattarella is expected to address the nation in a clear and
colloquial address, with his trademark dry and direct style.
He will speak in front of the Italian and European flags that
define him.
It is a stylistic choice that appears to be aimed at reaching
the highest number of people possible and through which
universal messages like the search for peace, the fight against
violence and the recognition of everyone's freedoms are always
in the foreground.
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