While political Rome goes on a short summer break in August, President Sergio Mattarella is expected in South Tyrol tomorrow, Saturday, for his traditional mountain vacation. He will land in Bolzano in the morning and spend his vacation in the Alps as in previous years - a contrast to many other top politicians, above all Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Mattarella will be staying at the "Villa Ausserer" military recreation center in Castelrotto. No official appointments are planned until his departure on August 25; his stay will be used for relaxation and private walks. Only an informal meeting with Governor Arno Kompatscher to discuss political issues and autonomy is planned.
While the President enjoys the South Tyrolean mountain air, Prime Minister Meloni is reportedly heading to the sea in Greece for a few days before continuing her vacation to Ferragosto in Apulia. The presidents of the two chambers of parliament, Lorenzo Fontana (Gargano) and Ignazio La Russa (Sicily), also prefer the coast.
The government team is divided: While Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini will spend a few days hiking in Trentino, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani is spending time at home in Fiuggi. The opposition is also following a mixed trend: Giuseppe Conte (Five Star Movement) is recovering in his native Apulia, Carlo Calenda (Azione) is traveling to Portugal. The secretary of the Radicals, Filippo Blengino, chose a completely different route: He will use August to visit Italian prisons.
