Overview
- The festival opened with Arianna Meloni cutting the ribbon before a tightly packed crowd, drawing ministers, lawmakers and Rome’s mayor Roberto Gualtieri.
- Elly Schlein stayed away after seeking a one-on-one with Giorgia Meloni, who conditioned any faceoff on Giuseppe Conte’s presence, while Conte was slated for a solo interview.
- Organizers blended politics with pop appeal, featuring TV and sports figures, and unveiled a “Bullometro” panel rating alleged hate remarks from opposition personalities.
- Gianfranco Fini returned after 17 years for a well-attended dialogue with Francesco Rutelli, calling it a “return home” and, per his remarks, praising Meloni for rebuilding a right-wing community.
- Some coverage, notably from il Giornale, describes unease inside the Five Star Movement after the Schlein–Conte clash, a claim presented as a developing internal tension.