Poll, April 25th and June 2nd divide Italians. Only 58% feel involved – Corriere.it

With the images of large participation still in our eyes, not without controversy, at the celebrations of April 25th and May Day and waiting to celebrate our Republic on Friday June 2nd, we addressed today’s survey to understanding what Italians think and what type of emotional relationship and sense of belonging you link them to civil holidays. A real paradox emerges from the survey: the holidays that should represent an identity trait and a moment of unity of the country, actually divide Italians in terms of involvement aroused by individual anniversaries. Indeed, the 58% declares that he feels involved in the Republic Day and the Anniversary of the Liberation from Nazi-fascism (against the 42% who is little or not at all interested), the 53% follows Labor Day (vs 47% away from this holiday) and only a minority, the 44%shows interest in the celebrations of November 4, on the occasion of National Unity and Armed Forces Day.

Over the years, the anniversary of June 2 is increasingly considered the true national holiday of all Italians passing from 30% of 2004 to 37% today and surpassing for the first time in the ranking April 25th which, specularly, descends from 37% of 2004 to 30% today. Opinions vary in relation to the voting orientation, in fact Republic Day prevails among center-right voters (FDI 50%among others of the centre-right 53%) while the Anniversary of the Liberation among those of the centre-left (Pd 50%). It should be emphasized that among the voters of the prime minister’s party, almost one in four (23%) puts April 25 in first place. And it should also be emphasized that the 28% of abstainers is unable to answer this question. Overall, May 1 and November 4 are considered decidedly less important.

The ranking that emerged highlights a certain unawareness on the part of citizens about the concatenation that makes certain historical events of our country necessary for the occurrence of subsequent ones. Without April 25th, for example, we would not have had the individual and social hope of free and protected work, just as we could not celebrate June 2nd, wishing a long life to our Constitution which makes us better people, protects us, sometimes supports us. . The celebration of April 25 this year was accompanied by many controversies which highlight how much the contrast between fascism and anti-fascism still represents an unresolved issue in the country today. The relative majority of the respondents (45%) considers anti-fascism an essential value at the basis of our Republic, while the 30% he believes that it is a theme that has been overcome by history since today our identity is different from this opposition. Sobering is the fact that one in four (25%) has no opinion on the matter.

The partisan polarization of positions is also evident herewith Pd voters positioning themselves at the89% on the first answer, as well as the 58% of the pentastellati and the 61% of the voters of the minor forces of the centre-left, while the 60% of FdI voters favor the latter (although more than one in four of them consider anti-fascism an essential value). And the voters of the other centre-right parties are almost equally divided between the two opinions. Even more evident is the polarization of judgments on theoperated by the premierwith the 38% who positively judges the way in which Giorgia Meloni dealt with the anniversary of April 25 as prime minister for the first time, in the face of a 33% which is expressed in a negative way and of a 29% which is not expressed (with a peak of 51% among abstainers).

With regard to the letter to Corriere della Sera from President Meloni on the occasion of April 25, the 33% believes that his words represent an important and definitive step forward for the Italian right, while the 34% convinced that it was a missed opportunity, given that the premier has never used the word anti-fascism even on this occasion and the 33% unable to answer, again with the highest level (58%) among abstainers.

The road for a recomposition of the fractures within our country is therefore still not entirely complete and today more than ever decisive for all of us, starting with a common recognition of the historical evidence, as has happened in other countries such as Germany, Spain and Portugal. Furthermore, the marked abstention rate goes hand in hand with a high disinterest in public affairs and brings out a widespread underestimation of the importance of knowing our history, ignoring which leaves room for improvident statements by politicians who confuse and equalization. However, without true reconciliation, the country is much weaker in the face of the various crises we are going through and the possibility of identifying the most effective priorities and paths to restart with momentum and cohesively towards the best choices to adopt in everyone’s interest.

The Political Diary newsletter

If you want to stay updated on political news, subscribe to the newsletter “Political Diary”. It is dedicated to Corriere della Sera subscribers and arrives twice a week at 6pm. Just click here.