Three years after the death of Manuele Braico, we remember him in this interview with Bruno Marini, a well-known name in local politics, currently representing Forza Italia in the Trieste City Council.

“Councillor Marini, in a few days we will have the historic visit of the two Presidents of the Italian and Slovenian Republics to the Basovizza foiba, an important moment for the entire world of exiles. However, an important interpreter will be missing…”

Manuele Braico is missed by all of us, by all those who work for a historical reconciliation, which now seems closer than before. There are still many issues at stake, however only dialogue can lead us in the right direction and dialogue, precisely, Manuele was an excellent interpreter.

“I didn't know him, but on June 27 I was also there in the Church of Saints Andrew and Rita when you organized a mass to remember him with the Association of Istrian Communities and the National Association of Venezia Giulia and Dalmatia…”

He was a good man who gave an exceptional boost to the activities of the associations trying to bring young people closer and make them aware of our history.

“Don Chersicla even hypothesized that if he hadn’t spent all that energy in recent times, perhaps he could have lived longer. Do you agree?”

I think so too, but Don Chersicla himself recalled how time is a gift of quality and not quantity; and in this world founded on the self-affirmation of the self, giving Time, even of illness, puts us on the line ofimitation of Christ. And Manuele spent himself until the end in ideas and projects that would continue after him.

“And if I’m not mistaken, he shared these ideas with you, right?”

We spoke often, yes… I could not hold positions in the world of exile associations because I was a regional councilor in those years, but I was always attentive when he asked me for advice.

“If I'm not mistaken, you come from the same family as the so-called Fanfaniani, the wing of the DC that opposed Osimo”

Exactly, Braico, Codarin and I have known each other since the 80s and we have always been linked in the love of our land by a spirit of dialogue and conciliation in opposition to the most extreme and radical positions.

“Can we call this friendship?”

In the last years of his illness, every time I asked him "How are you?" he would answer "Forget it" and I didn't even have time to insist that he was already starting to talk to me about his plans, about what he had in mind; we all knew he was sick, but his spirit of self-denial towards our story led us to consider that he would have defended it for some time yet.

“An example that…”

An example that must be such. We are studying something that remembers him. For now it is still early to give you more information on the project we have in mind, but certainly, a man like this will not be forgotten. We are thinking about the most appropriate formula to give him the right recognition.

“Councillor thank you for your time... "

“Thank you for allowing me to remember Manuele like this”

Andrea Altin