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Francesco Cogliati
The handover will take place on 7 December at the headquarters in via Roma
Grasso had been coordinator of Forza Italia in Olgiate since 2004: his place will be taken by lawyer Francesco Cogliati, majority group leader
OLGIATE MOLGORA – Changing of the guard in Olgiate Molgora where Francesco Cogliatifreshly appointed, is preparing to lead the Forza Italia section of the populous municipality of Merate, taking up the baton of Giovanni Grasso. The appointment for the handover is scheduled for Saturday 7 December at 11.30am in the headquarters in via Roma in the presence of the provincial secretary Roberto Gagliardi and friends and supporters of Silvio Berlusconi in the area.
The meeting will be an opportunity to thank Grasso for what he has done, from 2004 to today, as coordinator of Forza Italia of Olgiate Molgora, accepting the proposal of the then acquaintance and then great friend Carlo Brusadelliwho had been coordinator up to that point. With great commitment and enthusiasm, political activity in the town was encouraged with him which also led to the inauguration of the headquarters in 2007, then renewed in September 2023 with the renovation of the premises.
Giovanni Grasso
A “home” that has become, to use Grasso’s words, “the physical place that represents the liberal idea and vision of society and politics, an idea that comes from afar and which was perfectly embodied by President Silvio Berlusconi. Twenty years is a long time and we must not fall into the trap of identifying the role with the person, even if the person has given their soul for that role. For me it was a service experience. For all this time I have held the role of coordinator of Forza Italia for the municipality of Olgiate Molgora with enthusiasm and unconditional commitment. I suffered and rejoiced, always driven by a single motivation: the good of the community of Olgiate Molgora and the good of Forza Italia. I have achieved results with which I am satisfied and now the time has come to pass the baton to Francesco Cogliati, a young lawyer of great talent and, in my opinion even more importantly, of great personal seriousness. Best wishes to Francesco for an intense and successful activity.”
Thanks also come from Lecco both to Giovanni Grasso and Carlo Brusadelli for what they have done so far and to Francesco Cogliati, majority leader in the municipal council in Olgiate, for what he will do: “To Carlo Brusadelli and Giovanni Grasso comes the praise and sincere thanks from me personally and from the provincial secretariat – says Roberto Gagliardi – for the commitment made in the management of the headquarters and for the results obtained in recent years in favor of the growth of Forza Italia in Olgiate Molgora and the surrounding area. I also thank Francesco who has taken it upon himself to enthusiastically accept the challenging baton that Giovanni will hand over to him: he will certainly be able to do well too thanks to his political will and passion, strong in his ideals and the experience gained in the city council as majority group leader of “Olgiate Rinasce”. He is a young figure who with the help of councilor Maurizio Maggioni (recently a member of Forza Italia, ed.) will certainly be able to contribute to carrying forward within the municipal administration those liberal, moderate and pro-European values which represent the foundations of Forza Italia’s policies”.
In what ways might the changing political landscape in Italy, both nationally and regionally, influence Cogliati’s approach to leading Forza Italia’s Olgiate Molgora section?
## Open-Ended Questions for Discussion Based on the Article:
This article details a changing of the guard within Olgiate Molgora’s Forza Italia section. Here are some open-ended questions to spur discussion:
**About Giovanni Grasso’s Tenure & Legacy:**
* Giovanni Grasso emphasizes the Forza Italia headquarters being a “physical place” representing certain ideals. How do you interpret this statement? What makes a physical space important for political ideology?
* Grasso claims to have “suffered and rejoiced” during his time as coordinator. What do you think were some of the challenges and triumphs he faced?
* How has Forza Italia’s presence and influence in Olgiate Molgora changed during Grasso’s 20 years as coordinator?
**About Francesco Cogliati and the Future:**
* What unique strengths and experiences does Francesco Cogliati bring to the role of coordinator? How might his leadership approach differ from Grasso’s?
* What are the biggest challenges and opportunities facing Forza Italia in Olgiate Molgora in the coming years? What strategies might Cogliati employ to address them?
* How important is it for younger generations, like Cogliati, to become involved in politics?
**Wider Political Context:**
* The article highlights Forza Italia’s liberal, moderate, and pro-European values. How do these values align with the broader political landscape in Italy?
* How might the change in leadership within Forza Italia’s Olgiate Molgora section reflect changes happening within the party at a national level?
**Personal Reflections & Engagement:**
* Do you agree with Grasso that it’s important to separate the person from the role in politics? Why or why not?
* What are your thoughts on the role of local political parties in shaping a community?
* Would you consider getting involved in local politics? What draws you to or deters you from political engagement?
These questions can guide a thought-provoking discussion regarding political legacies, leadership transitions, and the challenges and opportunities facing Forza Italia in Olgiate Molgora.
