A "fighter" who "marked the history of our Republic", who held public responsibilities with "energetic temper". However you think about one of the most controversial figures of the last thirty years of our country's history, the death of Silvio Berlusconi it shocked and involved everyone: allies and adversaries joined in the condolences paying homage to the leader of Forza Italia. From Sergio Mattarella to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, from Mario Draghi to Elly Schlein up to Pope Francis, here are the main reactions to the news of the disappearance of Berlusconi, which took place this morning at the San Raffaele hospital in Milan, where he was hospitalized last Friday for complications due to chronic myelomonocytic leukemia from which he had been suffering for some time.
The reactions to the death of Berlusconi
Mattarella: "He marked the history of our Republic"
Among the first reactions to Berlusconi's death was that of the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella. “I learn with deep sadness the news of the death of Silvio Berlusconi, founder and leader of Forza Italia, protagonist of long seasons of Italian politics and republican institutions. Berlusconi was a great political leader who marked the history of our Republic, influencing paradigms, uses and languages”, writes the head of state. His leadership, he continues, “has helped to shape a new geography of Italian politics and to assume the office of prime minister four times. In this capacity he has faced events of global significance”, and mentions the attack on the Twin Towers, the fight against international terrorism and the financial upheavals at the end of the first decade of the XNUMXs. “He has progressively integrated the political movement he founded into the European popular family, favoring continuity in the Atlantic and pro-European orientation of our Republic. He was a person with great humanity and a successful entrepreneur, an innovator in his field. He has conquered positions of absolute prominence in the television industry and in the media sector, well before his direct involvement in institutions. He was – concluded Mattarella – the architect of important successes in the world of Italian sport ”.
Pope Francis underlines "energetic temper"
Also Pope Francesco he sent a telegram of condolences to the Cav family "for the loss of a protagonist of Italian political life, who covered public responsibilities with an energetic temper". “His Holiness – underlines the telegram – invokes from the Lord eternal peace for him and heartfelt consolation for those who mourn his departure. I join in the condolences with a fervent remembrance in prayer".
For Giorgia Meloni: "A fighter"
With a video message, the Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni spoke of a "fighter" and a man "who had never been afraid to defend his convictions and it was exactly that courage and that determination that made him one of the most influential men in the history of Italy, that allowed him to impress real turning points in the world of politics, communication and business”. With Berlusconi, continues the prime minister, "Italy learned that it should never have limits imposed" and "that it should never give up". Together, she concludes, “we have fought, won, lost many battles” and “for him too we will bring home the goals that we set ourselves together. Goodbye Silvio".
Mario Draghi remembers him as an entrepreneur
"I express my deepest condolences for the death of Silvio Berlusconi, the absolute protagonist of Italian public life for the last fifty years", said the former Prime Minister Mario Draghi. “As an entrepreneur he revolutionized the world of communication and sport, with an extraordinary spirit of initiative and innovation. As a leader he transformed politics and was loved by millions of Italians for his humanity and his charisma. To the family, to the employees of his group, to the Forza Italia community, my deepest condolences ”.
For Schlein "an era ends"
The secretary dem Elly Schlein underlines that "with the death of Silvio Berlusconi an era ends" and recalls that "everything has divided us and divides us from his political vision, however the respect that humanly owes to the one who was a protagonist in the history of our country remains Village. Deepest condolences from the Democratic Party.
Berlusconi: State funeral on Wednesday 14 June in the Milan Cathedral
The state funeral of Silvio Berlusconi will be held on Wednesday 14 June at 15:00 in the Milan Cathedral. This is confirmed by the Milanese Diocese: the request came from Palazzo Chigi and the Cavaliere family. The body is expected today in Arcore: the funeral home will also be held tomorrow in Mediaset.
