Italian President Sergio Mattarella opened the 2026 Labour Day celebrations with a visit to the Piaggio plant in Pontedera (Pisa Province), a symbol of Italian creativity and industriousness.
The decision to mark Labour Day at symbolic workplaces across Italy, which has been renewed this year, is now an established tradition, having been initiated by the President himself in Reggio Emilia in 2023, and having continued in Cosenza in 2024 and in Latina in 2025.
Upon his arrival, the Head of State was welcomed by Matteo Colaninno and Michele Colaninno, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Piaggio Group, respectively.
Together with them, he visited the factory workshop – the historic heart of the Group – observing the assembly lines and the various stages of scooter production, including the Vespa, which celebrates its 80th anniversary this year. The tour then ended with a visit to the Piaggio Museum.
Later, in the Museum’s auditorium, in the presence of local officials, the President took part in the event marking Labour Day 2026, which began with the national anthem.
Speakers at the event included Andrea Madonna, Chairman of the Pisa Industrial Union; Chairman Matteo Colaninno; Pamela Vanni, workers’ representative at the Piaggio plant; and Marina Elvira Calderone, Minister for Labour and Social Policies.
The closing address was delivered by the President of the Republic.
This was President Mattarella’s second visit to Pontedera, as the Head of State previously visited the town in 2018 to mark the 40th anniversary of former President Giovanni Gronchi’s death.
