Through the 19th legislature: the first records of the Brethren in Italy. Emotion for beginners

For fans of statistics, the Brethren of Italy are the first senator to be accredited to Palazzo Madama for the new legislature, the nineteenth. Nicola Calandrini, a few minutes after 9 am, working hours, had already completed all the formalities (photos, documents, various signatures on the forms) in the Caduti di Nassirya room and removed the kit for those elected: Senate regulations, Constitution, Treaties international. “Am I the first? A good omen for the legislator. The emotion is there… As for the first day of school”, explained Calandrini after a collage by Luca Di Carlo, also from Fratelli d’Italia. Giorgia Meloni’s party was the king on the senators’ first day of registration. The elegance and emotion of all the new parliamentarians stood out, with the newcomers taking over. To see the greats of Palazzo Madama take the picture for the new ‘face’ and collect the card to vote and go to the restaurant, instead you will have to wait a bit: Silvio Berlusconi is expected between Wednesday night and Thursday morning, Matteo Renzi has made an appointment directly for his Thursday, Carlo Calenda must give a jump to the Senate tomorrow, Tuesday.

Of the roughly 50 senators out of the 200 ‘stripped out’ of the list in the hands of parliamentary assistants at noon, the majority were from the FdI. A bit for a math question, being the most voted. Then because in the morning Meloni gathered them in Montecitorio and many took the opportunity to register immediately. “We are the first party, for us there is also an extra responsibility”, always says Caladrini. A point of reference for everyone was outgoing group leader Luca Ciriani, not surprisingly also among the first to be accredited. “Luca, are we going this way now?”, the most confused ask the specialist colleague who helped everyone to get their bearings.

Among the veterans are also those who have recently left the Chamber, such as Alessio Butti (FdI) and Walter Verini (Pd). There is also a former minister like Giulio Terzi di Sant’Agata. And there are also those who, confirmed, are preparing to play a new role in Palazzo Madama after 5 years: “We are preparing for a legislature in which we will be a responsible but intransigent opposition”, promises Mariolina Castellone, leader of the outgoing M5S group and now an old majority. But eyes are all for beginners. Elegant and composed, almost in attention, Raffaele De Rosa (M5s) confesses: «In life I am a soldier, captain. A big leap … ». Guido Castelli’s legs almost tremble, advisor in the Marches always at the FdI level: «Serving institutions is an incredible emotion. Being a senator is the secret dream of anyone who started doing politics at the age of 20”, he reveals. Representing local administrators is also Costanzo Della Porta, mayor of the small town of San Giacomo degli Schiavoni in Molise, also melonic: “Now you study, because you never stop studying”.

Just before lunch, a young man, Michele Fina, from the Democratic Party also arrives: “I would never have imagined being a senator at 44! Even though for someone like me who has had a political passion in practice since childhood, institutions remain the bigger goal,” he says. Fina, dem regional secretary in Abruzzo, has more than one reason to be proud of her first day at Palazzo Madama: “I have just been informed that in the first session, chaired by Liliana Segre as the oldest senator, 6 will be elected from among the senators Younger people to accompany her.” Much awaited, among the curious clerks and fans, also arrives Cláudio Lotito, who already had a vacancy in the last term, but was never assigned due to a dispute: “I feel the weight of a great responsibility, but I am ready to assume for myself, also strong in my humanist and Catholic education», he says solemnly. Then Ignazio La Russa arrives and greets him: “It’s your second term!” A kind of first day of school