Salvini's Republic Day absence sparks political row

Matteo Salvini's absence from a key Republic Day ceremony in Rome has ignited a political firestorm, with his staff citing urgent work on transport and public works projects, including efforts to avert a June 11 railway strike.

While the Lega party was represented, Salvini's no-show at the event, which featured a near-complete government presence, drew significant attention and criticism. The incident also highlighted underlying tensions within the majority coalition regarding rearmament.

Senate President Ignazio La Russa expressed regret for "all the absentees," but Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani pointedly questioned Salvini's absence and also noted the lack of attendance from opposition leaders Elly Schlein and Giuseppe Conte.

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Era impegnato su trasporti e opere pubbliche da completare, Pnrr in primis, con l’obiettivo fra gli altri di evitare lo sciopero dei ferrovieri per il prossimo 11 giugno

However, Schlein was reportedly not even on the guest list, as tribune seats are reserved for parliamentary leaders and commission members, not party leaders. Conte, invited as a former prime minister, declined due to a scheduling conflict with a school awards ceremony.

Osvaldo Napoli suggested that the absence of Conte and Salvini, whom he labeled "pro-Putin," was not coincidental. Meanwhile, the Five Star Movement had a strong delegation, and Italia Viva sent both its group leaders. The far-left Avs party remained cool towards the parade, with MEP Ilaria Salis proposing the abolition of military parades altogether, a suggestion that drew sharp condemnation from FdI's Giovanni Donzelli.

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Le due iniziative si sovrapponevano, e ho dovuto scegliere. Altrimenti ci sarei andato: resto pur sempre un ufficiale in congedo