The Constitution as a compass. The President of the Republic, on the day of the unification of Italy on 17 March, of the Constitution, of the anthem and of the flag, a day that «calls for civil commitment», invites «to safeguard and implement the principles of freedom, justice and peace on which the Republic is foundedso that they continue to guide the action of institutions and society in the pursuit of peaceful, supportive and authentically democratic coexistence, in Italy and in the international community”.
Paying homage to the Unknown Soldier, at the Altare della Patria, the head of state also thought about the current international context of wars and conflicts. A context «marked by tensions, conflicts and the re-emergence of contrasting dynamics and hegemonic aspirations that disturb the world balance, the principles that inspired the birth of the Republic and which find expression in our Constitutional Charter and are anchored in the United Nations Charter are a solid point of reference».
March 17, Mattarella explained, «celebrates the achievement of national unity, the recognition of Italy as a sovereign state, the culmination of the aspirations and civil commitment that characterized the Risorgimento seasonthen solemnly reaffirmed in the Liberation struggle, which allowed the country to regain its freedom with its unity, recomposing the institutional and political fracture caused by the Nazi-fascist occupation, building contemporary Italy”.
It recalls the founding elements of ours Republic: «independence, popular sovereignty, freedom, justice and peace. These are values developed along a complex historical path and not without afflictions, which finds its highest and most complete expression in the Constitution, an authentic safeguard of the rights and responsibilities that define our national community.” And he further underlined that «Constitution, Canto degli Italiani and Tricolore are symbols of a community founded on participation, solidarity and respect for democratic institutions and every person». A heritage that «the anniversary of March 17th invites us to renew and pass on, in particular to the younger generations, in a constant and open dialogue. To them, called to face profound transformations and global challenges of unprecedented complexity, institutions are required to offer guidance, trust and responsibility, so that they can contribute with full awareness to building the country’s future.”
