“I will not allow myself to be conditioned by slanderous campaigns, by insults and threats” and “I will remain president as long as the situation of the country and of the institutions makes me deem it necessary and possible, and as long as my strength allows it. Till then and not a day more; and therefore certainly not for a long time". In his year-end message to the nation, President Giorgio Napolitano read the letters that the Italians write to him and stimulated the political forces to implement reforms quickly and ensure "strong changes" but also forcefully rejected the absurd criticisms and accusations that they come from Beppe Grillo, Berlusconi and the League.
For Napolitano the country must find "the courage to get up" but it is up to the political forces not to shirk the sacrifices and take the path of change by not wasting the positive things that have been done. A “change of pace” is needed.
Breaking tradition, the Head of State dedicated a large part of the message to reading and answering the letters that Italians send him to the Quirinale on the country's most current problems.
