With the death of Silvio Berlusconi an era in the history of Italy ends. Since he jumped onto the political scene in 1994, he has become known for his revolutionary nature. He was prime minister three times, he built a media empire, he knew how to communicate with the people. He has been a highly criticized figure, but one who changed the rules of the game in the country’s politics.
Always present on the political scene, despite his health condition, last May he wanted to intervene with a video message at the Forza Italia convention, his party. In the last eight months, she was in the front line in the confrontations for the formation of the government, the internal wars of the party, which now remain in the background. In fact, his death takes on a national dimension. In these 30 years he was able to mark a before and after in the history of the country.
But, above all, he knew how to reach the deep soul of the Italians. A great communicator and a very charismatic figure, his main achievement was gaining the trust of the majority of Italians. And that many Italians identified themselves in it. The average Italian found in him things that he felt were his own: from mistrust towards the left, the State, the tax authorities, the judiciary, even the parties.
Also, Berlusconi represented restlessness, energy, impatience with the rules, the ability to become entrepreneurs. He knew how to transmit that with him everything was possible. And thus, he deeply marked society and culture.
A piece of Italy leaves with him, according to the voices that come from the country. Before Berlusconi, what counted were the parties: the Christian Democrats (DC), the Italian Communist Party (PCI), the Italian Socialist Party (PSI) but also the Republicans, the Liberals, etc. But the very concept of leadership, or the definition of a leader, was rarely used, even on the news. With Berlusconi, on the other hand, the leader became an absolute protagonist and the party he founded -Forza Italia- became the direct expression of him, governed like a company.
In Italy, after the news of his death, the debate is focused on the future of his party and on the absence of a figure who, although highly criticized, will hardly be replaced. Certainly no Italian personality has left such a deep mark in the last forty years.
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