Italy celebrated its Republic Day
national holiday on Friday with a military parade in Rome
featuring a stunning flypast by the Air Force's Frecce Tricolori
demonstration team taking centre stage of festivities
President Sergio Mattarella stressed the role of the
Constitution in his message to Defence Chief of Staff Cavo
Dragone for Republic Day.
"The values of the choice of June 2, 1946, transfused in the
Constitutional Charter whose 75th anniversary we mark (this
year), continue to guide us," Mattarella wrote, referring to the
post-World War II referendum in which the Italian people voted
to dump the monarchy and become a republic.
"Freedom, equality, solidarity, respect for the rights of
individuals and communities are fundamental pillars of our
Constitutional Charter".
Premier Giorgia Meloni stressed that the holiday "is not just a
museum-like celebration.
"It is the symbol of the fact that we understand that,
regardless of whether there are difficulties or things go well,
we only come through together," she said.
"Understanding that we are all connected is the element of
culture needed (for us) to understand that we must all pull in
the same direction".
Mattarella and Meloni were among the officials taking part in
the military parade along Via dei Fori Imperiali, with the
Colosseum as a backdrop, along with thousands of ordinary
citizens.
The parade was opened by 300 mayors wearing the tricolour sash.
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