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The far-right’s Giorgia Meloni claims victory in Italian election

by: Cassandra Tanti
26/09/2022

Near final results show that far-right leader Giorgia Meloni has won Italy’s snap general election, becoming the country’s first female prime minister and instating the most right-wing government since World War II.

Meloni leads the Brothers of Italy, a party rooted in a post-war movement that rose out of dictator Benito Mussolini’s fascists. As exit polls early Monday suggested a landslide victory, Meloni tweeted, “We will not betray your trust. We are ready to lift up Italy again. Thank you!”

Meloni’s right-wing alliance – which also includes Matteo Salvini’s far-right League and former PM Silvio Berlusconi’s centre-right Forza Italia – will take control of both the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, with around 44% of the vote.

Santiago Abascal, the leader of Spanish far-right party Vox, was quick to congratulate Meloni on Twitter, saying, “[Giorgia Meloni] has shown the road for a Europe that is proud, free and of sovereign natures, that are able to cooperate for the security and prosperity of all. Go on, [Brothers of Italy].”

In summer, Meloni had spoken at a Vox rally in Marbella, raucously telling the crowd: “Yes to the natural family, no to the LGBT lobby, yes to sexual identity, no to gender ideology… no to Islamist violence, yes to secure borders, no to mass migration… no to big international finance… no to the bureaucrats of Brussels!”

Others to have joined the chorus of praise include Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, who tweeted “Congratulations [Giorgia Meloni]!” and the Hungarian prime minister’s long-serving political director, Balazs Orban, who said, “We need more than ever friends who share a common vision and approach to Europe’s challenges.”

Extraordinarily, only 64% of the electorate is reported to have voted Italy’s election.

 

 

Photo above source: Giorgia Meloni Twitter page

 

 

 

 

Otter congress marks return of species to Sospel

by: Cassandra Tanti
26/09/2022

The Prince Albert Foundation has played its part in an international congress dedicated to otters, held recently in Sospel, which focused on cohabitation and conservation of this adorable species.

The holding of the 15th International Otter Congress in Sospel, just above Monaco, is symbolic because, 50 years after their “disappearance”, a population of otters has just been discovered in the valleys of the Bévéra and Roya rivers.

On Monday 19th September, the Human – Wildlife Initiative participated in the launch of the five-day congress, organised by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

There are 13 otter species that have suffered a worrying decline over the last century at the global level due to the fur trade and the multiple pressures that persist in the world’s aquatic environments.

Since 1976, the International Otter Congresses have brought together experts from all continents to discuss developments in research on otter ecology and biology, the conservation status of their habitats, threats, communication strategies and the involvement of local communities.

The Human – Wildlife Initiative was created in 2020 through a joint effort between the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, the Conseil National de Protection de la Nature (National Council for Nature Conservation), the Alpes-Maritimes Chamber of Agriculture, the Alpes-Maritimes Hunting Federation and the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur League for the Protection of Birds. Its aim is to develop innovative and concrete solutions to improve the relationship between wildlife and human activities including agriculture, tourism, hunting, nature sports and forest management.

Photo above credit: Mana 5280 on Unsplash

 

 

 

 

General Elektriks to perform Monaco show

by: Stephanie Horsman
26/09/2022

Popular French band General Elektriks will take to the stage at the Espace Léo Ferré in Monaco this November.

After a tour that included 200 performances in France, it is Monaco’s turn to welcome Hervé Selters, aka General Elektriks, on Sunday 6th November for a concert of funk, pop and electro.

For this, one of the last dates on the tour, Selters will be joined by a number of artists who collaborated on his 6th album, including American rapper Lateef the Truthspeaker, Franco-Greek actress Ariane Labed, Brazilian singer Céu, rapper Quelle Chris and guitarist Jeff Parker.

Tickets start from €22. For more information, see our calendar by clicking here.

 

UPAINT street art available online

by: Cassandra Tanti
26/09/2022

UPAINT, the one-of-a-kind street art festival hosted in the Principality of Monaco – has launched an open sale of the art that was crafted live in June, with all proceeds going to the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation.

UPAINT, formerly known as UPAW, is a unique art event to Monaco in which street artists showcase their talents for the general public over a number of days, creating a fun opportunity for them to witness the artists in action. At the end of the live performances, the art pieces are sold during a live auction curated by Artcurial. The net proceeds go to the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation to support projects that preserve our planet for a better future.

This year, UPAINT has renewed its partnership with invaluable.com to offer the option of acquiring the artworks from this year’s live show, which took place from 17th to 20th June. The sale will be open until 15th October 2022 and is a timed auction.

The public will be able to bid on 18 pieces created by the artists Futura, Bordalo II, Pez, Buff Monster, Dan Kitchener, The London Police, Bond Truluv, Spok Brillor, Alice Pasquini (Alicè), Dario Vella, Aura Aerosole and Oldhaus.

Proceeds from this sale will go to the Foundation’s Human – Wildlife Initiative, which aims to protect wildlife in rural and mountain areas neighbouring the South of France.

For information, contact info@upawart.com.

 

Artwork above: ‘Wild Side’ by Alice Pasquini

 

 

 

 

 

Jean-Luc Biamonti: “I will leave SBM in good shape, and with a warm heart”

by: Cassandra Tanti
24/09/2022

Jean-Luc Biamonti has told Monaco Life that he will leave his role as deputy chairman of SBM in six months’ time with a strong feeling of accomplishment, handing over a very different company than what he inherited.

The press had gathered on Friday 23rd September at the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel and Resort to hear Jean-Luc Biamonti discuss the latest General Assembly with shareholders and the encouraging financial figures generated from a busy summer season.

And it was with great pride that the Société des Bains de Mer (SBM) deputy chairman recalled the €530.5 million profit for the 2021/2022 financial year, a 57% increase on the previous year, that had been revealed in March, adding that a bumper summer season could potentially lead the company to its most successful financial year yet.

But it was also revealed that this will in fact be Biamonti’s last few months as head of the company. Earlier in the day, SBM shareholders had been informed that he will be stepping down from the top job on 31st March 2023.

Jean-Luc Biamonti has a long history with the Société des Bains de Mer. In 1985, he became director of the company, before rising to Chairman of the Board of Directors in 1995. By 2013, he was entrusted with the operational reins of the group with the title of deputy chairman.

“When the Prince called me, the company was not doing very well,” Jean-Luc Biamonti told Monaco Life. “It was 2013 and SBM was losing money, for example the share price was €30. It is now somewhere between €90 and €100.”

It is certainly a very different looking SBM to what Biamonti inherited. Under his tenure, a number of very large and bold projects were realised.

“One-Monte Carlo was perhaps the biggest game changer for Monte-Carlo SBM because it has increased the revenue tremendously,” said Biamonti. “It made Monaco and Monte-Carlo more attractive, and the stores are delighted with their performance. There was also the renovation of the Hôtel de Paris, and now the expansion and renovation of the Café de Paris.”

He also oversaw one of SBM’s biggest gambles, an investment in the online gambling company Betclic, which this year paid off dividends after some tumultuous years in the red.

“Ultimately the industry turned around, and we sold it at a huge profit – €820 million, which has injected cash in SBM, well half cash, half shares, but the shares we can sell progressively.”

It is no doubt the end of an important era for the Société des Bains de Mer, Jean-Luc Biamonti and Monaco in general. Biamonti will be succeeded in April 2023 by Stéphane Valéri, who will step down as National Council President in a matter of days to become Chairman of the Board of Directors of SBM.

“I think I have turned the company around,” concluded Jean-Luc Biamonti. “I leave it in very good shape, and with a warm heart.”

SEE ALSO: 

SBM APPOINTS STÉPHANE VALERI AS DEPUTY CHAIRMAN, EFFECTIVE 2023

SBM COMPLETES ONLINE GAMBLING TRANSFER FOR HEFTY PROFIT

 

Photo of Jean-Luc Biamonti during Friday’s press conference, source: SBM 

 

 

 

 

 

SBM appoints Stéphane Valeri as chairman, effective 2023

by: Cassandra Tanti
23/09/2022

National Council President Stéphane Valeri is stepping down in a matter of days to succeed Jean-Luc Biamonti in running Monaco’s largest employer, Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer (SBM).

After weeks of speculation, the news was confirmed on Friday 23rd September during SBM’s General Assembly: there will be a change of guard in 2023.

National Council President Stéphane Valeri has accepted a proposal to join the Board of Directors of SBM and will leave his post as an elected official on 3rd October.

From 3rd April 2023, Valéri will step into the role of chairman of SBM, taking over from Jean-Luc Biamonti who has been at the helm of Monaco’s most important company for a decade.

SBM owns and runs Monaco’s most iconic institutions including the Hôtel de Paris, the Casino de Monte-Carlo, and the Hôtel Hermitage. It is majority owned by the State.

In a statement released by the National Council, Stéphane Valeri said that he has been “fully invested” since assuming the presidency of the National Council in February 2018.

“As I promised with my fellow National Councilors, we have restored the National Council to its just place within the institutions of our country,” he said. “Most of our commitments have been kept, in particular on housing for Monegasques, social issues, and even the positioning of the Assembly vis-à-vis the European Union.”

Valéri also pointed to his council’s work with the government on the Covid-19 Joint Monitoring Committee which “has worked in unity with institutions and unions to formulate proposals to protect the population, to support the economic actors and wage earners, and to prepare for the recovery.”

“It is therefore with the feeling of duty accomplished and the will to serve other interests of the Principality that I shall cease my duties…” he said.

Valéri added that he was looking forward “joining this great company to which my family and I have been very attached for several generations.”

 

 

 

Photo of Stephane Valeri by the National Council of Monaco