Salvini acquitted, the hug to his girlfriend Francesca Verdini: «The breath held for 30 seconds, I don't wish it on anyone»

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT
PALERMO – «Francesca, let's toast with a glass of red». Only about twenty minutes have passed since the acquittal sentence. A violent downpour hits Palermo, as if a lot of water had to fall to wash away three years of trial with heavy accusations for a minister and deputy prime minister. Matteo Salvini dissolves all the accumulated tension. The tears of her partner in the courtroom. In the hotel, where he stops for a few minutes to record a TV talk with Bruno Vespait's time to let go. There's a glass for everyone, it's a festive evening.

Big pats on the back, dazzling smiles, thanks spread liberally to anyone who comes under fire, but first of all to the lawyer Giulia Bongiorno and, naturally, the Francesca Verdini who was next to the minister throughout the very long day. In the morning in the courtroom to listen to the latest clarifications from the prosecution and Bongiorno's reply. Then, a short lunch break with some of the most trusted Salvinians who came to the island (from the deputy secretary Claudio Durigon to the minister Giuseppe Valditarayes Armando Siri ad Andrea Paganella). And then, three hours of relaxation (unusual for a defendant awaiting an imminent trial), between shopping and visiting some places in Palermo. With a small disappointment when, having reached Piazza San Domenico on foot, the couple found the Pantheon which houses the judge's remains closed Giovanni Falcone.

«It was a triple game — confides Salvini in the evening, after having achieved what he defined as “a victory for the League, a victory for Italy” -. I was confident because I always thought I had never done anything wrong, but until the judge said that word (“acquits”) I held my breath.». And perhaps it is no coincidence that when the President of the Court read the dispositive, the person who had the slowest reaction, a few seconds mind you, was the now ex-defendant. It was Bongiorno who held him in a strong hug, immediately followed by four-five vigorous slaps on the shoulders with the strength of someone banging their fists on the table to claim credit.

But the emotion reached its highest peak when Salvini's partner arrived in the front row, while all around the leader's collaborators were celebrating as if they had also been acquitted. Francesca tried to resist. Then tears rolled down his face as he whispered a few words into his partner's ear. “She is the one who suffered more than anyone,” the deputy prime minister would later tell his friends. At that point, Salvini moved away from the cheering group and started tapping his cell phone. Messages for the two children and for the parents, at home waiting for good news.

Having disposed of the emotions, here are the political declarations, first with a brief statement in front of the platoon of media massed outside the bunker room of the Pagliarelli prison («it is now clear that defending borders is a right and not a crime») and then with the recording of Vespa's «Five minutes», with a mutual exchange of compliments. “I wouldn't wish those thirty seconds between entering the court and reading the sentence – which the left gave me by voting for the trial in the Chamber – on anyone.” And then again, without holding back the desire to enjoy revenge: «I'm curious to hear the left-wing accusers, the professors who rage on TV and in the newspapers and who believed that I was a dangerous criminal, racist and fascist».

Congratulatory messages arrive from government partners, starting from the Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (“great news, hurray!”), but not only that. It's not missing Elon Musk which on X pays him a «Bravo!» and then comment with a «We hope» is the hope for Salvini's return to the Interior Ministry expressed by another follower. Just as the compliments from the President of the Senate arrive Ignazio La Russaof ministers, group leaders, parliamentarians, while from the opposition there are those who, how Benedetto Della Vedova (+Europe), points out to the deputy prime minister that the acquittal confirms that the rule of law works.

Upon hearing the news of the verdict in favor of the leader, a group of militants gathered to celebrate in via Bellerio in Milan where, coincidentally, the new national council of the Lombard League was meeting for the first time under the leadership of Massimiliano Romeo, elected last Sunday in the wake of lively criticism of the party's management. But on the day of celebration everything is put on the back burner, because “the League is a big family, always united and compact”. And never mind if it hasn't always been like this, especially in the background murmurs. Now it's just time to raise our glasses.

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December 21, 2024 (changed December 21, 2024 | 08:10)

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