A last-minute attempt , less than three weeks after the Sartiglia , to address the issue of the application of the Abodi decree to the equestrian joust .
In the afternoon, Mayor Massimiliano Sanna , MP Francesco Mura , and President of the Oristano Foundation Carlo Cuccu attended a meeting at the Ministry of Health to discuss the regulations and their impact on the next edition of the event.
"The issue, already presented in recent months and the subject of ongoing review by all those involved in organizing the Sartiglia, will be examined further by the Ministry of Health in conjunction with the Ministry of Agriculture and Sport," reads the statement released by the Municipality after the meeting, which "will result in decisions that will be communicated as soon as possible."
The Roman visit comes amid an increasingly polarized climate. On one side, Filippo Martinez has made a public appeal, urging the mayor to defend the Sartiglia and its identity, avoiding interventions that could jeopardize its celebration. On the other, animal rights groups and national observers are vigorously contesting any attempt to reinterpret or water down the Abodi decree , which they consider a minimal but necessary safeguard for the protection of horses.
Further fueling the debate was the stance taken by regional councilor Alessandro Solinas , who announced his intention to promote a bill to mitigate the decree's application to traditional equestrian events . The Italian Horse Protection association reacted harshly. "We're talking about a decree approved recently that is already weak , partial, and insufficient to seriously discuss horse welfare," stated president Sonny Richichi, emphasizing that "today, they're even going so far as to publicly declare their intention not to respect it or to dismantle it piece by piece in the name of alleged traditions." For the IHP, "there is no identity value that can justify putting sentient beings at risk," and the warning is clear: "If the Sartiglia were to be held in violation of the decree, we will immediately report those responsible."
