Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who died this Monday at the age of 86, was remembered by his allies and rivals as either a historical figure or a controversial protagonist in Italy’s political and social history.
The leader of the far-right Lega party, Matteo Salvini, was one of the first to join the tributes, considering himself a political heir to Berlusconi – who was until now the commander of the conservative Forza Italia party.
Salvini, the current vice president of the government of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, canceled all his events “until further notice” and even remembered Berlusconi as “a great man and a great Italian”.
The leader of the Democratic Party (PD – centre-left), Elly Schlein, sent “the deepest condolences” to Berlusconi’s family, supporters, his party and members of the governing coalition, of which Força Italia is part.
“Everything separated us and still separates us from his political vision, but the respect humanly due to someone who was a key player in the history of our country remains,” Elly Schlein said in a note.
Former Social Democratic Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, author of the controversial alliance between the centre-left and Berlusconi in 2014, believed that the Italian magnate “built the history” of Italy.
“Many loved him, many hated him. But everyone must recognize today that his impact on political, economic, sporting and television life was unprecedented. Today Italy mourns with its family, its loved ones, its companies and your party”Renzi stated.
Former Italian Prime Minister and former President of the European Commission, Romano Prodi, paid tribute to the influence of Silvio Berlusconi.
“I remember him as a political leader who, during his long and intense period of public engagement, had a profound influence on the life of our country, not only on its institutions, but also on the lives of all citizens,” said prodi.
“We represented different and opposite worlds, but our rivalry never turned into feelings of animosity on a personal level and the debate remained in the spirit of mutual respect”added the former prime minister.
Silvio Berlusconi was a controversial figure for nine years, media magnate, conservative and right-wing and Prime Minister of Italy (1994-1995, 2001-2006, 2008-2011).
He was the target of corruption allegations and was at the center of the sex scandals that would culminate in his expulsion from the Italian Senate in 2014.
In 2022, the billionaire returned to the political spotlight as a senator and leader of the party he founded, Força Italia, a member of the right-wing and far-right coalition currently in power, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
President of the European Parliament recalls “political protagonist”
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola remembered Silvio Berlusconi as a “protagonist of politics in Italy and Europe” as he “left his mark”.
“Silvio Berlusconi: the fighter who led the center right and was a key figure in politics in Italy and Europe for generations,” Roberta Metsola wrote in a publication on the social network Twitter.
Recalling the former Italian Prime Minister as “father, businessman, MEP, Prime Minister and Senator”, the leader of the European Assembly also stressed that Silvio Berlusconi “left his mark and will not be forgotten”.
Silvio Berlusconi: il combattente che ha guidato il centro-destra e che è stato protagonist della politica in Italy and Europe by generation.
Padre, Imprenditore, Eurodeputato, Presidente del Consiglio, Senatore. Let it be known and not sarà dimenticato.
Thank you Silvio. pic.twitter.com/jSoiJUmyc3
– Roberta Metsola (@RobertaMetsola) June 12, 2023
Also on Twitter, the European Commissioner for Economy, Italian Paolo Gentiloni, said that “a leader who has left a deep mark on Italy in recent decades has passed away”.
“Today is a moment of condolence for everyone, of bonding with their families and with the community of Forza Italia,” the party led by Berlusconi, the European official, concluded.
with Silvio #Berlusconi compare a leader with a segno profondo nell “Italia degli ultimi decenni.
Per tutti, oggi è il moment del cordoglio, della vicinanza alla sua family and alla comunità di #ForzaItalia.-Paolo Gentiloni (@PaoloGentiloni) June 12, 2023
Monza and Adriano Galiani mourn the owner’s death
AC Monza, the club he owned since 2018, and Adriano Galiani, his right-hand man, mourned the death of Berlusconi, a man of football.
“Adriano Galiani and all of AC Monza mourn the loss of Sílvio Berlusconi. It is an impossible void to fill, he will always be with us. Thank you for everything, chairman,” said a joint message from the club and Galiani.
After the sale of AC Milan, which he led for more than 30 years (1986/2017), Berlusconi started a new adventure in football, with the purchase of Monza, handing over the management, just as he had done with the emblem rossonerito Galiani.
Several clubs have similarly expressed their grief over Berlusconi’s death, including champions Napoli, with President Aurélio De Laurentiis expressing his and the club’s condolences.
Arrigo Sacchi, former coach and mythical coach of AC Milan in a golden period for the club, with two European titles, including one in the final against Benfica (1990), also expressed his regret about the death of Il Cavalieri.
“I feel a great sadness. He was a great character, who tried to improve Italy and the sport, but he was not always understood. I tried to talk to him a few days ago, but I couldn’t,” said Sacchi, in an emotional phone call to the ANSA agency.
AC Milan mourns death of ‘unforgettable’ former president
AC Milan is “deeply saddened” by the passing of the “unforgettable” Silvio Berlusconi, who led the club between 1986 and 2017, with a few brief interruptions, the most glorious period in Milan’s history. rossoneri.
“AC Milan, deeply saddened, mourns the passing of the unforgettable Silvio Berlusconi. Thank you chairman for always being with us,” the Milan club lamented.
The club, which includes Portuguese international striker Rafael Leão, won 29 titles during Silvio Berlusconi’s 31-year reign, interrupted at times to carry out government functions, including five in the Champions League and eight in Serie A.
Between the 1980s and 1990s, AC Milan imagined itself to be the greatest European football power, bringing together some of the best footballers of the time, with an emphasis on Italians Franco Baresi and Paolo Maldini and the Dutch trio composed by Marco Van Basten , Ruud Gullit and Frank Rijkaard.
Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti, the current Real Madrid coach, who guided Silvio Berlusconi’s golden years at AC Milan as a footballer between 1987 and 1992, and as a coach between 2001 and 2009, expressed “infinite gratitude” to the former president of the ‘ Rossoneri’.
“Today’s sadness does not erase the happy moments we spent together. I am infinitely grateful to the president, but most of all to the ironic, loyal, intelligent, sincere, decisive man in my adventure, first as a footballer, then as a coach” , said Ancelotti in a post on the social network Twitter.
La tristezza di oggi, non cancella i momenti felici passati insieme. Rimane a riconoscenza infinite al president, ma soprattutto ad un uomo ironico, loyal, intelligent, sincere, fondamental nella mia avventura da calciatore prima, en de allatore poi. Thank you chairman. pic.twitter.com/aRLSxxzUVz
– Carlo Ancelotti (@MrAncelotti) June 12, 2023
Source: DN
