The Italian businessman and former head of government died on Monday at the age of 86. Anonymous and many political figures from all sides will be present.
With our correspondent in Milan, Matteo Cioffi
It is logically the place of the Dome and its famous cathedral, places symbols of Milan, which were chosen for the farewell to Silvio Berlusconi. This afternoon from 3 p.m., all those who want to attend the state funeral of the former Italian Prime Minister will have the possibility of accessing the esplanade which can accommodate up to 20,000 people. So decided yesterday the prefecture and the committee of public order and safety of the Milan city hall. The area will be closed to traffic and the metro stop closed throughout the ceremony. Public participation is only allowed outside the cathedral where two giant screens have been installed, while inside, 2,000 people will attend the mass celebrated by Mario Delpini, the Archbishop of Milan.
In the church, among those present, of course the family and friends of the leader and founder of Forza Italia, but also the President of the Italian Republic Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. At their side, former transalpine heads of government, including Mario Draghi, Matteo Renzi and Mario Monti. The European institutions will be represented by several deputies from the Parliament of Strasbourg and among them, the president of the European People’s Party, the German Manfred Weber. The entire ceremony will be broadcast live on the Mediaset group television channels… the audiovisual company owned by the Berlusconi family.
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