"Schillaci victim of waiting lists"the (political) storm breaks out over Enzo Iacchetti’s gag

A “game”, one might say, which ended badly with the comedian as protagonist Enzo Iacchetti on stage Piano of coursein Portovecchio. Pressured by questions from Andrea ScanziIacchetti launched into a list of “dreams” featuring government officials and political leaders.

Iacchetti and the ‘dreams’ about Salvini and Vannacci

Thus, Iacchetti dreams of seeing Matteo Salvini “stopped on a Frecciarossa between Florence and Bologna, with forty degrees and without air conditioning”. Roberto Vannacciinstead, he “dreams” of him intent on “asphalting the streets at night, at 40 degrees”.

“Shut us as victims of waiting lists”

Until Orazio Schillaci: “I would like to see the Minister of Health go to a hospital, need a CT scan, need an MRI, and be told ‘sorry, the first release is in eight months’. And see him die first, as happens in many cases here.”

The political case erupted after Iacchetti’s words

Words that trigger a reaction from members of the majority, but not only. “Solidarity with Minister Schillaci for the incredible attack he suffered”, says the deputy of Italia Viva Daniela Sbrollini: “This time Enzo Iacchetti has really exaggerated. These are tones that go beyond legitimate political criticism, and beyond even the paradox and provocation granted to artists and the world of entertainment. There are limits that cannot be exceeded.”

For the senator of Brothers of Italy Gianni Berrino“expressing dissent is a right but wishing death on a minister of the Republic, however, is a gesture that poisons the public debate and risks fueling a climate of hatred and tension”.

A climate that Berrino links to the street clashes of the last few hours in Bologna: “In recent weeks we have already witnessed episodes of violence during demonstrations and protests. Those who have great visibility should contribute to lowering the tone, not fueling further anger and conflict. Politics is fought with ideas, not with death wishes”, concludes the FdI exponent.

Iacchetti’s reply: “Mine was just a gag”

The actor intervenes on social media with a message addressed to the head of the Ministry of Health: “Dear Minister of Health, I have never wished you to die, believe me. I only gave one example, a nice gag in which I imagined all the ministers without their powers, forced to face life like ordinary people.

And then I said: let’s say the Minister of Health asks for a CT scan and they schedule it for him months later… He could possibly die, as happens to many people who die before having appointments for tests.”

Cirielli: “Solidarity with Minister Schillaci”

Shortly afterwards, however, he became coordinator of the national management of Brothers of ItalyEdmund Cirielli to take a stand alongside my executive colleague: “I express full solidarity with the Minister of Health, Orazio Schillacifor the very serious words spoken towards him by Enzo Iacchetti. Wishing death on a minister of the Republic is unacceptable and poisons public debate”, he explains. “Then justifying oneself for having made a joke or simple irony is only an attempt to avoid taking responsibility for delinquent behaviour. Political dissent is legitimate, but it can never turn into personal hatred.”

On the merits of Iacchetti’s joke, “it is well known that the responsibility for the problem of very long waiting lists, which has lasted for decades, lies entirely with the regions which by constitution have full competence and resources to deal with them”, he further observes Cirielli for which “it is also incorrect to accuse Minister Schillaci with squalid statements, who is also the first person in his role to try to regain centrality and competence from the Department of Health on the topic”.

“I hope that the opposition will unambiguously distance themselves from these statements. There can be no silence on episodes like this: respect for people and institutions must come before any political affiliation”, concludes the exponent of Fratelli d’Italia.