Silvio Berlusconi, a sulphurous media magnate who ruled Italy for nine years, died at the age of 86 on Monday, June 12, from leukemia, his entourage told Agence France-Presse (AFP). Nicknamed “the Immortal” for his longevity in politics, the senator and businessman, who has had a profound impact on the political landscape of his country, was again admitted on Friday to the San Raffaele hospital in Milan, where he stayed multiple times. The journey of this eternal ghost, whose political death has been wrongly announced many times, merges with the Italian history of the last thirty years.
“The state funeral of Silvio Berlusconi, who died this morning at the age of 86 at the San Raffaele hospital in Milan, will take place on Wednesday at the Duomo of Milan”, the majestic cathedral of the Lombard capital, announced the diocese of Milan on its website.
The head of the Italian government, Giorgia Meloni, hailed the memory of her ally Silvio Berlusconi, seeing in him “one of the most influential men in the history of Italy”. “Silvio Berlusconi was above all a fighter. He was a man who was not afraid to stand up for his convictions and it was precisely his courage and his determination that made him one of the most influential men in the history of Italy,” said she said in a video sent by her cabinet.
To admirers, the three-time prime minister was a capable and charismatic statesman who sought to elevate Italy on the world stage. For critics, he was a populist who threatened to undermine democracy by using political power as a tool to enrich himself personally and enrich his businesses. For Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, the death of Silvio Berlusconi “leaves a great void”. ” I loved him so much. Goodbye Silvio,” he said on Twitter on Monday.
Former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi recalled Berlusconi’s divisive legacy in a post on Twitter. “Silvio Berlusconi marked the history of this country. Many loved him, many hated him. All must recognize that its impact on political life, but also economic, sporting and television, has been unprecedented,” he wrote, wishing those who “will be missed” that the “earth be light on [him] “.
“From today we will dedicate all our efforts to continue the thousand roads that you have seen and then traced”, said, for his part, the leader of the League party, Matteo Salvini, who called Silvio Berlusconi of “a great man and a great Italian”. “One of the greatest of all time, in every way, in every way, without equal,” he added. “Immense pain. Just thank you president, thank you Silvio,” Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani tweeted.
“The majority of Italians in their hearts would like to be like me and see themselves in me and the way I behave,” Berlusconi said in 2009, during his third and final term as prime minister. He said of himself that he was “not healthy”. On Canale 5, the main private general channel of the Mediaset group owned by Silvio Berlusconi, the presenters announced in tears the death of the media magnate.
“Everything has divided us, but human respect remains”
His political adversaries also paid tribute to him. “The greatness must be recognized even to the adversaries”, reacted the former Minister of Culture, Dario Franceschini (Democratic Party, left). “An era ends with the death of Silvio Berlusconi. Everything has divided us and everything divides us (…) but what remains is the human respect due to the one who has been a protagonist in the history of our country”, reacted Elly Schlein, leader of the Democratic Party (PD) , the main opposition party.
“He ignited and polarized public debate perhaps like no other, and even those who faced him as a political opponent must recognize that he never lacked courage, passion, tenacity,” greeted Giuseppe Conte, former Prime Minister and leader of the 5 Star Movement (M5S). “Silvio Berlusconi was a great protagonist in our history. A world leader who fought for a stronger, more democratic Europe,” commented Sandro Gozi, Renaissance MEP and Secretary General of the European Democratic Party (EDP).
Strong tribute to Vladimir Putin and the French right and far right
Russian President Vladimir Putin lamented an “irreparable loss”. “For me, Silvio was a dear person, a true friend,” Putin said in a condolence telegram to Italian President Sergio Mattarella, according to a Kremlin statement. He said he always admired her “wisdom” and praised her “incredible vital energy”, her “optimism” and her “sense of humor”.
The boss of the Les Républicains (LR) party, Eric Ciotti, sent his condolences on Twitter to those close to this “true monument of politics in Italy”. A “statesman whom he served with all his might” and “a fervent defender of the friendship between our two nations”, according to Mr. Ciotti. “An atypical character with an extraordinary life and a dazzling journey”, for Marine Le Pen, who also sent her “condolences to Italy in mourning” in a message on Twitter.
Referring to the “outspokenness” and the “unprecedented style” of the former head of government, the president of the National Rally, Jordan Bardella, also considered that “Silvio Berlusconi marked an entire era in his country”. His death “will leave a huge void within the European right”, added Senator Stéphane Le Rudulier (LR), for whom “his fight against communism and [that] to propel Italy into the 21st century will remain achievements who will outlive him.”
“Leading political figure, entrepreneur, sports leader and media man, he served the Franco-Italian relationship with fervor,” tweeted the leader of centrist senators Hervé Marseille (Union of Democrats and Independents). Meyer Habib, Franco-Israeli parliamentarian and LR deputy for the 8th constituency of French people living abroad, praised Silvio Berlusconi on his Twitter account, “this giant! and sent “all his thoughts to the Italian people”.
More measured, the left reacted little to the disappearance of the one who is also known for a procession of scandals, in particular his famous “bunga bunga” evenings. Socialist Senator Rachid Temal recalled that he “contributed to the return of the far right, heiress of Mussolini, to the head of Italy”.
Several football clubs are “crying”
AC Monza, a football club owned since 2018 by Silvio Berlusconi, and Adriano Galliani, the businessman’s longtime right-hand man and former head of government, also paid tribute to the memory of the “Cavaliere”. “Adriano Galliani and all of AC Monza mourn the loss of Silvio Berlusconi, the Lombard club said in a message posted on its website. It is a void that can never be filled, forever with us. Thank you for everything, president. »
After selling AC Milan, the club he led for more than thirty years (1986-2017), Silvio Berlusconi embarked on a new sporting adventure in 2018 by taking over Monza, which he entrusted, as in Milan , management to Adriano Galliani. Several other clubs also paid tribute to the former AC Milan boss, including Italian champions Napoli, who expressed the “condolences” of its president, Aurelio De Laurentiis, and the whole club, who said he was “deeply saddened”.
“Silvio Berlusconi changed the history of Italian football,” Italian Football Federation president Gabriele Gravina said in a statement. “His contribution in terms of passion, innovation and investment, always with a particular focus on the beautiful game, has been fundamental to the affirmation of our football at international level,” he added. “He made the history of this fate (…) by taking Italian football to the roof of Europe and the world”, insisted, for his part, Lorenzo Casini, president of the Serie A League.
“AC Milan mourns the disappearance of the unforgettable Silvio Berlusconi”, reacts the rossonero club, one of the most powerful in the world when the former Italian head of government was its president, in a message on its site. “Thank you president, forever with us,” he adds. Carlo Ancelotti, who was a player (1987-1992), then coach (2001-2009) of AC Milan during the reign of Berlusconi, expressed his “infinite gratitude to the president”. He was “decisive in [his] adventure as a footballer first, then as a coach”, assured the Real Madrid technician on Twitter. Another emblematic former coach of this “great Milan”, Arrigo Sacchi, hailed the memory of a “fabulous friend, to whom I owe everything”, quoted by the Italian press agency ANSA.