Good evening everyone,
I would have loved to be with you with all the strength of heart of my 102 years to tell you about my emotion 80 years ago, that 2nd of June in 1946 when women too were able to vote. It was a great thing: I still feel the great emotion of winning the female vote, the possibility of which I had worked with women and girls from Catholic Actionin particular with Armida Barelli (co-founder of the Catholic University), to achieve this result. I remember the arrival of the referendum notice that my mother and I put away ready for our important task. On the morning of June 2nd my mother, who was about 60 years old at the time, woke me up early saying: «Come on, come on, let’s go to the first Mass and then immediately to vote, so if something happens our vote is already there!». And then off he goes, running, with the precious piece of paper clutched in his hands, with the anxiety and desire to arrive on time. When I entered the cabin I felt a big tremor: I had to say “yes”, I lingered for a moment and then off I went! I felt happy and important, it was an achievement of security and life.
From that day on, women also had a full voice, 21 women participated in the Constituent Assembly and from there our Constitution was born. I am happy to remember with all of you this unique moment in my life, even if it is difficult to fully share all the emotions I felt inside my heart and the strength that this experience gave me.. I was triumphant! And I was for all the times in these 80 years that my country has called me to express my opinion on political, administrative, European, referendums… and more. I missed only one vote due to health problems, only one until I was 102 years old. Don’t abandon the polls! Don’t underestimate the strength of our being there.
