ROME Terrazza Borromini, 14.00. Here too, in the charming restaurant where the Garofani Gate begins, you can breathe in the stormy air that is now behind us. Or rather, almost left behind. The unusual gray of the Roman sky breaks up the stunning view of Piazza Navona, and matches the mood of Andrea Federici, the owner of the place, who for days has done nothing but answer messages and calls. It was that mixture of bitterness and candor that he reserved as an appetizer for his interrogators: “We had read articles talking about waiters with fake beards, but if anyone was recording them, it certainly wasn’t us.” In short, it was the “internal dynamics at the table” that led one of Luca Di Bartolomei’s dinner guests to record or report the remarks of Francesco Garofanibusiness adviser to the Supreme Defense Council who, at the table of Roma supporters, called for the need to “shake up” the government of Giorgia Meloni. In response, a short circuit occurred that on Wednesday required a clarification meeting between the Prime Minister and the President of the Republic.
Also because secrecy was the real advantage of the restaurant, a favorite destination of diplomats, politicians and high-class Capitoline names. From the central corridor, secluded rooms wind on both sides: at the far left, on the evening of November 13, Luca Di Bartolomei’s guests sat, many of whom had taken part, at the Chamber of Commerce, in the presentation of the activities carried out by the association named after his father, Agostino Di Bartolomei – the famous Roma captain who died 31 years ago – founded with the aim of promoting sports activities for young people from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
DINNER
“Me? I attended the conference, but I was not invited to dinner”, a phrase often uttered by many guests at the Piazza di Pietra conference. Among them were also La7 journalist Giovanni Floris, who left halfway through presenting his book in Puglia, regional council member Flavio Cera – who left the room after his speech – and the CEO of Rai Cinema, Paolo Del Brocco, who was also “excluded” from the gastronomic banquet. The one who “came out” was the sports journalist Carlo Paris, guest of Un Giorno da Pecora, on Rai Radio1: «Among those present I knew Luca, his partner Fabrizio Failla and several faces but I learned who Garofani himself was from the newspapers».
In short, more than just a group of old friends, a group of acquaintances united by a love of football and general knowledge of Di Bartolomei. It was the Quirinale board members who acted as the dividing line between the two sides of the table. On the one hand, where a small group of journalists sat, the discussions that took place at dinner did not even touch on politics: the belief in “Magica” of course, the internal changes in Rai and the appreciation of the buffalo mozzarella zizzona, were among the dishes served to the table. On the other hand, when Garofani took office, some political issues were also touched upon: in addition to political “surprises” and the ambition of a “large national civil list” to stop the center-right leader, there was also talk about the next elections in Abruzzo, and especially in L’Aquila, where they will again hold elections next year.
On both sides of the table, outside the zizzona, the waiters served mixed fried dishes, standard pasta and finally dessert. A side detail that is neither denied nor confirmed in the Terrazza Borromini area: “We won’t tell you what they eat, but they sure eat well.”
The day after the match at the Quirinale, the Azzurri tried to put out the last fire. It started with Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani speaking about “closed affairs”, underlining “respect for the head of state”. He was followed by the group’s leader in the Senate, Maurizio Gasparri, who interpreted Garofani’s exploits as a heretical “political opinion”, but should be read as a hope that “the reformist left area of Ruffini and others, which now almost ceases to exist, will take shape”. But there were also those who, like Alessandro Cochi, president of Coni Lazio – also at the event in Piazza di Pietra – tried to play down the drama: «If you want, you can record my words, I’m sure things have gone further». “But were you at dinner?”, we asked him. “No, they didn’t invite me, maybe because I support Lazio.”
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