Monti conquers the public in Cernobbio, Vannacci disappoints expectations

The long-awaited confrontation between Mario Monti and Roberto Vannacci catalyzes the attention of the second day of the Cernobbio Forum, with few going unbalanced even if it is the senator for life who receives the applause of managers and entrepreneurs, gathered at Villa d'Este on Lake Como. Twice the audience in the 'Empire Room' interrupted him to applaud and there was no shortage of laughter at the barbs aimed at the former general, who instead was listened to in silence and received only timid applause at the end of his speech.

With the microphones off, some spoke of a one-sided match, with Monti receiving the majority of the votes. For some, the former prime minister, who started out quietly, won over the audience with his cultured quotes - above all those of Camus and Mitterrand - and with the irony that distinguishes him. Others point out that Vannacci did not go in depth, as the entrepreneurs expected. Beyond reiterating that it is not his intention to leave Europe and the euro, the leader of Futuro Nazionale who defined himself as an incurator, was not effective according to many in the audience. While Monti, who as Competition Commissioner had the nickname 'Super Mario' by no coincidence, 'dismantled' Vannacci's ideas point by point, sending him, as a professor, to the next appeal. "What Mario Monti said was very beautiful, everyone should hear it", is the consideration of the president of Unicredit, Pier Carlo Padoan.

"Applause for Monti. I consider myself very lucky to have had the opportunity to hear the professor speak. He sincerely moved me", says the multiple Olympic short track champion Arianna Fontana. Regarding Vannacci, the coldness of Jordan Bardella and Edi Rama should be noted. "I don't understand, one of your colleagues asked me if I like Vannacci, but why should I like him if I like Giorgia?", replies the prime minister of Albania, underlining how the Italian prime minister "is beautiful, she's very good". While the president of the Rassemblement National highlights how "my loyalty naturally goes to Matteo Salvini. And my respect naturally goes to the Prime Minister. I hope he can continue to take Italy even further and even higher". Thumbs down also from government representatives such as the owner of the Environment, Gilberto Pichetto Fratin "I am not a fortune teller. Governments are created on the basis of coalitions in which there must be shared principles. At the moment, from what Vannacci is propagating, there are no shared positions".

And far from Cernobbio in a story on Instagram Mario Balotelli, former striker of Inter and Milan and of the national team, writes: "Question for Roberto Vannacci: am I Italian for you? It's absolutely not polemic, but pure thirst for opinions".