The duel is racing toward the elections but, for now, it's mostly being played out on social media, between reels, posts, and blockbuster soundtracks.
After his "futuristic triathlon" staged in Sanremo, Roberto Vannacci took up the provocation of Matteo Renzi, who had challenged him to a marathon ("Let's make a spoon!" the leader of Italia Viva had quipped), and raised the stakes: first a two-mile swim, then a half-marathon.
The counterproposal arrives on Instagram in a reel posted by the founder of Futuro Nazionale, strictly shirtless. The general also puts the date and location on the table: October 4th, in Sardinia . "Renzi is acting like a braggart and challenging me. But he thinks he's dealing with Calenda, Fratoianni, Bonelli, Bonaccini. But I'm raising the stakes: first we'll swim two nautical miles, then run the half marathon. Then we'll see if Renzi is just talk and a badge. I'll be there," he states.
The former prime minister's response arrived promptly, this time with a clip about X. "General Vannacci, the half marathon? Have you gone soft?" Then the political jab: "By hanging out with Tajani and Salvini, you've become like them, and you're offering me half-assed things." And finally, the attack on the chosen date, believed to be the result of a precise calculation. " He suggested October 4th because he knows it's the day of the Leopolda , an event that's been going on long before Vannacci started engaging in politics and will continue even when the Vannacci phenomenon has worn off and faded. I won't invite him to the Leopolda, because the Leopolda is attended by people who believe the Constitution is anti-fascist, that gays are normal people, that the United States of Europe is a hope and not a problem. In short, all those things that Vannacci doesn't like. The Leopolda isn't for him. But, at least the marathon, let's see if he has the courage to do it."
"Matteo Renzi is seriously challenging you," the Italia Viva leader concluded. " A marathon, not a half-marathon. Whenever you want."
(Unioneonline)