Minister Valditara's gaffe on Piersanti Mattarella: 'Assassinated by the Red Brigades'. The minister: 'Just a slip of the tongue'

Corriere della Sera reports on a significant gaffe by Minister of Education Giuseppe Valditara. While attending the inauguration of a school honoring Piersanti Mattarella, a figure tragically assassinated by the mafia, the Minister mistakenly attributed his murder to the Red Brigades. This slip of the tongue, occurring at such a solemn occasion, has drawn considerable attention. Mattarella, brother of the current President Sergio Mattarella, was a victim of organized crime, a fact deeply ingrained in Italy's recent history. The Minister's subsequent clarification, stating it was a mere 'lapsus' and reiterating Mattarella's status as a mafia victim, attempts to mitigate the embarrassment. However, the incident highlights the sensitivity surrounding historical events and the importance of accuracy, especially for public figures addressing national tragedies. For Italians, the mafia's impact is a painful reality, and such misstatements, even if unintentional, can be jarring.

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I want to spend a few words, at the time I was almost 19 years old, I remember that dramatic photo of the President Sergio holding his brother assassinated by the Red Brigades and pulling him out of the car.