June 2nd always

On June 2, 1946, the first universal suffrage vote took place in Italy, when, for the first time, women were able to exercise this fundamental political right. A historic date that marked our history and gave birth to the Italian Republic. That day, 25 million people, out of 28 million Italians eligible to vote, went to the polls: approximately 89% of the population.

The path to where we are today has been long and complex, made up of reconstructions, tragic moments, economic booms and crises, new frontiers and challenges; the European Community was born, then the European Union, a unique reality in the world, with its own single currency. But today it seems that many have forgotten the path taken. The recent European elections saw a participation of less than 50% of Italians, a negative record; especially among young people there is less and less interest in dealing with "public affairs", there is detachment and little education for the common good. How can we get out of this negative spiral? Where to start again?

I immediately thought of June 2nd of this year, spent in a shelter that has been open for 20 years in the city of Moncalieri thanks to the collaboration between Sermig, Caritas and Cottolengo. A house that has welcomed hundreds of mothers and children, of dozens of different nationalities, 4 continents, allowing them to become good citizens and good Italian citizens.

Furthermore, in those days I happened to speak at school, with 1516 year old kids about the Italian Republic and the common European dream as a precious legacy to be protected and made to grow, so that the flame lit so long ago does not go out, but can resist the winds of history, even the adverse ones, and can grow. I told myself that we need to start again from these two aspects: from welcoming the last and educating the young. Politics should return to dealing with this with more care. It is our future. In the meantime, in a small way, many are doing their part.


Roberto Lerda
NP June / July 2024