Carlo Calenda is boycotting Cernobbio because of Vannacci. According to the programme for the 52nd edition of the Ambrosetti Forum, the leader of Futuro Nazionale is scheduled to appear on Saturday 5 September, when he will take part in a debate with Mario Monti entitled ‘The European project between integration and sovereignty: the Italian perspective’. “They’ve invited Vannacci with great fanfare to the Ambrosetti Forum,” writes the leader of Azione in X, pointing out that the general “will not have to face all the other opposition figures on the panel but will enjoy preferential treatment on a panel dedicated to him. “In keeping with the worst traditions of Italian lobbying, there is a rush to kowtow to the latest populist – in this case, a neo-fascist, racist and pro-Russian figure.” Hence the decision not to attend the Forum. “I believe this should be a good reason,” concludes Calenda, “for entrepreneurs and political leaders to give serious thought to whether they should attend the Forum. As far as I’m concerned, I’ll be staying well clear of it.”In Cernobbio, the decision to invite Vannacci is being defended. “It is not a form of ‘kissing up’ or ‘preferential treatment’ towards him,” clarifies Valerio De Molli, CEO of The European House – Ambrosetti and Teha Group, responding on X to the leader of Azione. Calenda’s view “is a representation that is completely at odds with the spirit in which we organise the Forum”, emphasises De Molli, noting that “as General Vannacci holds the position of Member of the European Parliament and is a member of the ‘Europe of Sovereign Nations’ parliamentary group, his involvement in the debate on European sovereignty during the session with Jordan Bardella and Mario Monti, moderated by Francine Lacqua of Bloomberg, is entirely consistent”. For this reason, "dear Carlo, we were frankly rather surprised by your post", reads the statement signed by the CEO, recalling that Calenda "has participated over the last few decades as a representative of Confindustria, as a minister and, for the last four years, as a political leader and ‘voice of the opposition’. You should therefore be aware that the Forum – it emphasises – is a platform that aims to create a space for dialogue and discussion, even amongst people who hold different positions, by bringing together ideas, visions and opinions in a spirit of listening and exchange.”In his lengthy reply to Calenda, De Molli also points out that the Ambrosetti Forum invites “a variety of speakers, who are sometimes very far apart in their views, not to legitimise their positions, but to listen to them and allow everyone to engage with them”. He cites, for example, the invitation: “Over the last five years, we have invited Geert Wilders to speak on issues of European sovereignty. We have built an initiative in Italy with global reach (now in its 52nd edition) that has involved dozens of governments and hundreds of business leaders from around the world, and which has established itself as one of the most important forums for discussion and dialogue on global issues”, concludes De Molli. “Together with our 350 colleagues, we are proud of our founding values of autonomy and absolute independence from any form of ‘direct’ or ‘indirect’ pressure. The Peres–Arafat debates remain memorable. We would have expected from you – precisely because you know our work so well – a different perspective and perhaps even a willingness to engage, once again, with those whose ideas are very far removed from your own.”