An hour before the event started, the 7 thousand seats at the Palapartenope in Naples were sold out. At least three thousand people were still outside. There was no trace of the social centers and protests usual for the radical left. Police closed the entrance for security reasons. Naples was in chaos, traffic and parking lots full, due to the arrival of Giorgia Meloni and center-right leaders Maurizio Lupi, Antonio Tajani and Matteo Salvini, for an electoral demonstration in support of Edmondo Cirielli, candidate for governor of Campania. The center-right dreamed of (and saw) a turnaround. Surveys suggest a steady recovery. Meloni believes it: “Go everywhere and tell them there are alternatives to fried fish and Fico inconsistencies.” We left at 6 pm. Flags and chants for Cirielli. Gianfranco Rotondi opens, Giorgia Meloni closes. In the middle, the other leaders Tajani and Salvini. A round of applause for Meloni who recalled a good precedent: “In 2022 we decided to close the election campaign in Naples, deciding to bet on the potential of the South, on the ability to demonstrate its values. We did it in a symbolic place, Bagnoli, a monument to the failure of the left”. The Prime Minister recalled: “After three years I can say that we have kept our commitment”. And here he mentions his successes: “Zes generated a turnover of 27 billion euros, GDP grew more than the national average, employment grew, the America’s Cup, the Caivano model”. Meloni claims Cirielli’s choice: “A friend, a coherent militant, very troublesome when he has to defend his own land”. The Fdi leader does not give up in the clash with De Luca: “While he is making a show on Facebook, Campania is at the back of the pack in terms of spending.” And then his encouragement: “At De Luca I played three cards on the waiting list”. He gave his best to the pair De Luca-Fico: “I am from Neapolitan comedy, but I think comedy is more noble. We are proud to be an alternative to them” said the audience. On the left, Meloni kept a thorn in the patrimonial side: “As long as we’re there, no communist recipe is too late.” He put all the reforms on the table: On fairness, vote in the referendum looking at the merits of the rules, we will stay in the field until 2027. With a yes, fairness will improve”. Candidate Cirielli spoke first about the leaders, he felt the weight of the recent rush: “The game starts today. De Luca is now in the past, there is a desire for change in Campania”. Then he focused on the program: “I signed an agreement with the people of Campania regarding health care, transport and social assistance”. Lupi cheered up the crowd and encouraged Cirielli: “They are cowards who take to the field knowing the result, lions take to the battlefield”. Salvini confirmed the poll trend: “In Campania it is an open game, you can win. In the next ten days we will play for the next 10 years”. The League leader then mentioned the data: “2.6 billion construction sites opened in Campania by this government”. Then a dig at challenger Roberto Fico: “There is no such thing as a citizen’s boat, if Fico wants to keep that boat he pays what all citizens pay”. Also addressed to the head of the CGIL: “Landini is a professional striker” attacked Salvini. At the end of his speech Salvini cited the case of the Roma camp in Giugliano (province of Naples): “Cirielli to close in first month of mandate”.
Tajani sees victory: I thank Edmondo for what he did in Farnesina, Cirielli left his political career to serve his country”. And then it was the memory of Silvio that stirred the audience. Tajani encouraged moderate voters: “Whoever voted for De Mita, Craxi, Gargani in the past cannot vote for Fico today”.
