by Rome editorial team
The gesture of one of the students of a Roman high school who attended the session of the Senate Chamber while the Prime Minister’s communications were underway. The senior police commissioner Gaetano Nastri (FdI): «Even if it is a boy it is an act to be condemned»
The sign of a gun made with his hands, addressed to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. It is the gesture of one of the students of a Roman high school who today 19 March attended the session of the Senate while the Prime Minister’s communications were in progress. The student, a minor, was immediately reprimanded by the teacher who accompanied the school group and by a clerk, who scolded him. Immediately, however, controversy broke out and condemnations arrived.
“He regretted it”
The class, from the Righi high school in Rome, was going out to visit the Senate. The person responsible for the gesture was sitting in the front row, close to his classmates and teachers. At a certain point, the gesture: the arm stretched out towards the prime minister, who was speaking, and the fingers clasped like a gun. One of the teachers immediately realized the seriousness of the matter, lowering the boy’s arm. Everyone, however, had already noticed it. The matter then passed into the hands of senior police commissioner Gaetano Nastri (FdI). After what happened, the parliamentarian met the teacher who immediately condemned her behavior. An inappropriate gesture, said Nastri, making it known that the boy “has already regretted it and has apologised”.
La Russa: «Gesture to be condemned»
The president of the Senate, Ignazio La Russa, before opening the general discussion on the prime minister’s communications in view of the EU Council, returned to the episode: «There was a gesture with two fingers, with the thumb raised pointing towards the president of the Council, immediately repressed by a teacher, who I like to point out to condemn him in the most decisive way, even if he is a boy”.
Malan: «Fingers like a gun»
The group leader of the Brothers of Italy in the Senate, Lucio Malan, also intervenes: «An unprecedented gesture by a student from the Righi high school in Rome visiting the Senate – he said, recounting what happened in detail -. Immediately after the speech of the Prime Minister, the President of the Senate La Russa greeted the students of a Roman high school, one of whom dramatically pointed the fingers of his hand like a gun towards President Meloni. An unworthy, uncivilized and unacceptable episode. Violence should never be evoked, much less within a parliamentary chamber. I hope that the school authorities take adequate measures and I hope that the student comes to understand the gravity of his ignoble gesture.”
The principal: «No one expected it, we apologize»
The high school, considered one of the best in Rome, a stone’s throw from Via Veneto and always at the top of the Eduscopio rankings, immediately announced measures: «We will take disciplinary action – promises the principal of the Righi high school in Rome, Cinzia Giacomobono -. These are things that don’t
they must be done, in our high school we know that there are students of the extreme left, critical of the government, and students of the extreme right. Everything that kids can do is not predictable, we teach kids the values of democracy and respect every day. The class council will evaluate what to do, based on the institute regulations and the seriousness of what has been done. We’re sorry, we apologize, no one expected it”, adds the principal.
Meloni: «Striking gesture»
Prime Minister Meloni then expressed “gratitude to the Senate for the solidarity expressed by the parties” after the gun gesture. “It strikes me that a gesture of this kind in a Chamber like this takes place on the day of the anniversary of Marco Biagi’s murder,” said Meloni during the reply to the discussion on communications in view of the European Council. Biagi, adds Meloni, was “a servant of the State who paid with his life for his availability towards the institutions”.
The high school apology: «Severe punishment»
In the evening, the President of the Senate, Ignazio La Russa, read the letter of apology from the Righi high school in the Chamber. «I learned from the teachers of the very serious episode that occurred today during the visit to the Senate of a class of the institute I direct – wrote the principal Cinzia Giacomobono -. As a teaching staff we are struck and saddened by the episode, which contrasts with our daily commitment to transmit to children the values of dialogue, democratic discussion and tolerance towards all opinions. The boy’s behavior will be punished with the severity he deserves, also involving his family, who are as grieved as we are. I apologize together with the accompanying teachers and the children for what happened, which will be an opportunity for further discussion in the class council and for reflection with the children.” “I break a spear so that there is no excessive punishment,” La Russa commented.
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March 19, 2024 (modified March 19, 2024 | 8:48 pm)
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