The gathering of Italian right-wing populists is called “Atreyu,” after the young hero in Michael Ende’s “Neverending Story.” The festival in Rome provides an insightful insight into the cosmos of Giorgia Meloni and her party.
Hours before the festival site opens to the public, the cleaning people drive their carts through the Circo Massimo grounds. Also where the infamous chariot races took place in ancient Rome. The personal is tasked with collecting every little bit of dust so that it doesn't look like the rest of the city. Only: There is actually nothing for the cleaning crew to do here. Everything is sparkling clean. Even later, when the guests stream in, hardly any rubbish is thrown on the floor. This is not a normal Roman folk festival.
“It looks like Trentino,” says Giulietta. The 65-year-old English teacher came to Rome from the far north with her husband Giuseppe, a former manager in heavy industry, for a few days to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary. They are happy about the quick, military-like order on the festival site: massive plastic panels have been laid all over the floor so that everything stays clean. All the stalls at the Christmas market are lined up. The two Berlusconis used to vote for Forza Italia, then the Lega and today the Fratelli d'Italia. Giorgia Meloni provided what the country so desperately needed: stability. “You can finally rely on us!” “People no longer look down on Italy abroad,” says Giuseppe. “But she also works hard for it,” adds Giulietta, referring to the partition wall at the entrance gate. All international activities that Meloni has undertaken this year are listed there: trips (41), summit meetings (47), invitations to Rome (108); Even telephone conversations with foreign government representatives (112) are registered. A total of 588 activities.
The detailed self-praise seems a bit strange, but the propaganda is obviously catching on. This also includes the other posters that close to it. Many of them are intended as a background for selfies and are labeled with appropriate sayings: “In this photo you can see who Elly Schlein didn’t see coming,” is a reference to a sentence by the leader of the Italian left (“They didn’t see us coming see”). Those who were in front of another transparent point of view signaled their support for the Italian asylum center in Albania.
“Atreju – La via Italiana” is the name of the event, and the members of the Fratelli youth organization in their wine-red sweaters work as volunteers (above). Arianna Meloni (below right), the party leader's sister, who heads the party's political secretariat, also comes to the festival.
A whole series of posters are directed against the archenemy, who is called “la Sinistra”. For example, false facts are listed that exponents of the left had spread in order to discredit the government. Others show the results of AI research. “What does the ideal world of the left look like?” was the question. Answer: Eco-vandals are allowed to do whatever they want. There is a total toilet included. Only leftists work on television.
“Atreyu” is the name of the annual festival. It is the Fratelli d'Italia's most important event, but the party's logo is nowhere to be seen in the Circus Maximus so as not to scare off unbiased guests. The strong leader of the movement is present with a face and name. Because “Atreyu” is basically Giorgia Meloni’s festival. She shaped it from the start. In 1998, when it was carried out for the first time, as a young activist from Azione Giovani. This was the name of the youth group of the political party Alleanza Nazionale, which emerged from the neo-fascist Movimento Sociale Italiano.
At that time it was still a gathering for tightly organized young people who – like the young Giorgia in a French television report – raved about Mussolini and wanted to save virtues such as family spirit, fear of God, discipline and service to society into the future. The name they chose for their festival is part of the mythological armamentarium, which also includes enthusiasm for Tolkien's “Lord of the Rings”. Like the ring's owner Frodo, Atreyu, the hero in Michael Ende's “Neverending Story”, is the chosen one on a dangerous mission: he has to use imagination and heroic courage to defend himself against nothingness, that is, to destroy all of existence. In exactly the same way, the young right-wingers saw and continue to see their sacred world threatened by progressive forces. Evil has a name: “la Sinistra”.
Michael Ende wrote the bestseller just 30 kilometers south of Circo Massimo. Namely in Genzano di Roma, where he lived in a house in the countryside. He died three years before his freedom-loving hero was annexed by the post-fascists. The German writer was against such ideological appropriation throughout his life. His heirs and the estate administrator have also protested against this several times. So far without success.
The pavilion with the studio of the party's own radio (above). Giovanni Donzelli (below) was a co-founder of the Fratelli d'Italia and now sits for them in the national parliament.
Since Meloni founded the Fratelli d'Italia together with her companions in 2014 and became their undisputed leader, she has also raised “Atreju” to another level. They brought the city of stalls from Colle Oppio, one of the seven hills of Rome, to the central squares of the metropolis: Piazza del Popolo, Castel Sant'Angelo and now to the Circus Maximus – and thus among the people. At the same time, she used “Atreyu” as an instrument of party leadership: to promote cohesion, strengthen self-image, and set the direction.
As with the meeting of the Swiss SVP in the Albisgütli, it is also tradition for “Atreyu” to invite not only the allies but also the political opponents. This year, for example, the 84-year-old communist Fausto Bertinotti was at the inauguration. In addition to independent experts, people of all political stripes also take part in the diverse podiums that have been held for a week, with a total of 380 speakers. Only Elly Schlein, Meloni's left-wing challenger, canceled.
With Meloni's move into the Roman government building two years ago, “Atreyu” gained even more glamor: Since then, illustrious personalities from abroad have also taken part. Meloni has a special effect last year with Elon Musk, who appeared on the podium in the conference hall with his son. That was the beginning of a close friendship that today makes Italy, especially after Trump's election, perhaps the USA's most important ally in Europe.
This year, Argentine President Javier Milei and Najib Mikati from Lebanon are visiting. As always, the absolute highlight is the appearance of “the President” himself on the last day – Giorgia Meloni, as is well known, wants to be called “il Presidente”. When she enters the marquee to close “Atreyu,” she should bring the hall to a boil. She gained the tools to be an emotional speaker as a young activist.
The visitors to “Atreju – La via Italiana” also take part in the numerous podiums and read the party newspaper “Il Patriota”.
However, many of the visitors to Circo Massimo have little interest in politics. This shows Meloni's ability to win over people of all ages and from all social classes. Debora from Ecuador, for example, who works as a waitress in a Roman hotel. She saw pictures of the event on television and was so excited that she had to go straight away.
“There are very few other Christmas markets in the city,” she says. And this is exceptionally well done: the range of food and drink is extensive and excellent. The decoration is superlative – a huge Christmas tree, glittering teddy bears, fairy lights. And there are security forces everywhere. Even the ambulance is present. “Perfectly organized,” she praises, and is then surprised to hear that it wasn’t the city administration that set it all up.
“Ah, Giorgia,” she scolded. “A mother like me.”
The artificial ice rink has been a hit for many years. Even those who drive around here are hardly interested in politics. An hour on the ice costs ten euros. The train is open until midnight and is always well attended. 38-year-old Marco is responsible for the system. He was once an ardent supporter of the Five Star Movement. “In the beginning,” he explains, “it seemed that a new era would begin in which integrity and honesty would rule.” All wrong! “In the end, every good idea corrupts,” he says disillusioned.
Marco states that he ultimately chose the Brothers of Italy due to a lack of alternatives. But maybe he's just saying that because he has a lot to thank Meloni for business-wise.
The ice rink, which is open until midnight, has been a hit at the Fratelli d'Italia winter party festival for years.
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