Newly elected Rome Mayor Virginia
Raggi on Thursday placed a wreath at the tomb of the unknown
soldier at the Victor Emmanuel Monument in the first of a series
of official ceremonies marking the day she is to be sworn in.
Among them was a speech to commemorate magistrate Mario
Amato, who was assassinated on June 23, 1980, by far-right
terrorists from the Armed Revolutionary Nuclei (NAR).
"This is my first public speech as mayor and I am honored
to dedicate it to the memory of one of the most eminent
magistrates who committed themselves to the battle against
terrorism," Raggi said.
"The State must always stand with those who search for the
truth...Today and every day, we are Mario Amato".
Raggi also made a stop at Porta San Paolo in the
3rd-century Aurelian Walls in Rome's southern Ostiense district,
where Italian soldiers and civilians tried to stop Nazi German
forces from entering and seizing the city in September 1943.
There were 570 casualties.
The young new mayor was met by representatives from the
National Association of Italian Partisans (ANPI), who fought in
the anti-Nazi resistance during World War II.
"Be careful because Fascism is a very ugly beast," said one
elderly ANPI representative.
"We lived through it and we had a cursed youth, but we
defended ourselves and we made it. We lost 80,000 comrades, men
and women both. I hope to see you again and I wish you all the
best".
Raggi also visited the Ardeatine Caves memorial where Nazi
troops slaughtered 335 civilians in reprisal for a Resistance
action in 1944.
"I commit to reaping this important heritage on behalf of
our beloved city and our dear country," Raggi said.
There will be no official handover from Special
Commissioner Francesco Paolo Tronca, who has been running the
city since ex-mayor Ignazio Marino stepped down amid an expenses
scandal in October last year.
Raggi is expected to enter her new office with a view over
the Imperial Forums by about 18:00.
After that, she may request a hearing with Pope Francis
that could take place on June 29, the feast day of Rome's patron
saints, Peter and Paul.
Protocol also calls for new mayors to request a meeting
with the president of the republic, in this case Sergio
Mattarella.
The first Raggi city council is to meet in the first week
of July - possibly the 7th - to elect a Speaker, who is likely
to be Marcello De Vito from Raggi's anti-establishment 5-Star
Movement (M5S).
Meanwhile the M5S majority is at work on choosing
chairpersons for the various city commissions.
The M5S caucus leader in city council is expected to be
Paolo Ferrara, who has served in the same role in the Ostia city
council in the past.
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