Meloni Visits Alpine Troops, Cites Need for 'National Pride'

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni made a surprise appearance at a gathering of Alpine troops from the Triveneto region in Gemona del Friuli. Her visit coincided with the 50th anniversary of the devastating Friuli earthquake of 1976, a tragedy that deeply impacted the region and spurred a remarkable reconstruction effort.

Meloni marched with the troops and greeted attendees, pausing to pay respects to the Ana (National Alpine Association) banner, adorned with 26 gold medals. She described her visit as a "lightning strike" and stated she felt a need for "a bit of healthy national pride," which she believes can be found among the Alpini.

She also took the opportunity to express gratitude for the Alpini's "extraordinary work," not only in disaster relief and reconstruction but also during the recent Olympic Games. The gathering itself marked the third and final day of the event, which included a historic train journey for the Alpini and a ceremony to pass a symbolic baton from the Gemona section to the Treviso section.

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I didn't just happen to be passing through this area, but I was passing through for another reason. I thought it was a duty. Let's say I needed a bit of healthy national pride and, if you can't find it here, I don't know where else you could find it. And then it was also an opportunity to thank the Alpini for the extraordinary work they have done during the Olympics and not just during the Olympics. So I came to say thank you to these people.