Bologna, July 30, 2026 – For a Bologna where twelve citizens are now under investigation for suspected participation in the street clashes, there is another city that instead empathizes and recognizes in the courage shown that same night by Mrs. Francesca. Sixty-three years old and the strength to stand up, on the evening of Monday, July 20, to the rioters ’face to face’ to try to put an end to the street warfare. A gesture that had already earned the praise of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. But the Prime Minister, in recent days, went further and personally called Mrs. Francesca to express her pride.
Francesca, what does this phone call mean to you?
“For me it was a historic moment. An honor and certainly something that doesn’t happen every day.”
How long did you talk?
“It was a matter of a few minutes.”
During which, what did you say to each other?
“It was a chat between two normal people. At first, I thought I was on ’Prank Show…’ (laughs, ed.) I said to myself: ’No, it’s impossible’.”
And instead…
“Instead, the Prime Minister really called me to reaffirm her pride in what I did, telling me she was proud and other beautiful things.”
Looking back at that evening on Via Venezian in Bologna, when you tried to calm the fury of the clashes between protesters and police, what do you think?
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“I think I never expected all this. People with Il Carlino who see me and recognize me on the street, the interviews, up to the call from the Prime Minister herself.”
And does this new normal make you happy?
“Honestly, I hope it ends soon. I am a normal person, who did what I did for the good of my Bologna. I didn’t expect anything, but I can’t hide that this phone call still filled me with pride. It was a beautiful thing. However, there is a but in all this…”.
What is it?
“Do you know who never called me? Not so much because I expected it, but still after so many demonstrations of solidarity…”.
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Who?
“Mayor Matteo Lepore”.
