Italy’s former Prime Minister and media magnate Silvio Berlusconi has died at the age of 86 from leukemia. Il Cavaliere, as he was nicknamed, leaves behind him an immense trace in the political life of his country, where reactions go beyond political divisions. In France as well as internationally, it is above all the right and the extreme right that have saluted his memory.
The head of the Italian government Giorgia Meloni paid tribute to her ally Silvio Berlusconi, who died on Monday June 12, at the age of 86. ” 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 determination that made him one of the most influential men in the history of Italy. “, she said in a video sent by her cabinet.
“ Berlusconi was a great political leader who marked the history of our Republic “, reacted the Head of State Sergio Mattarella in a press release, praising “ a person of great humanity and a successful entrepreneur “.
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For his part, Matteo Salvini, League leader and Minister of Transport hailed the memory of a ” great italian “. “ One of the greatest of all time, in every field, in every way, unrivaled “, tweeted the far-right politician. He also lamented the loss of“ a great friend “, saying to himself broken.
Oggi ci greeted a GRANDE ITALIANO.
Uno dei più grandi di semper, in tutti i campi, da tutti i punti di vista, senza eguali.
Ma soprattutto oggi perdo un grande amico.
Sono distrutto e piano raramente, oggi è uno di quei giorni.
Conservo come un dono prezioso il valore della tua… pic.twitter.com/4n4TOefl4c— Matteo Salvini (@matteosalvinimi) June 12, 2023
In Italy, even politicians opposed to Silvio Berlusconi have hailed the memory of the rider. ” Silvio Berlusconi marked the history of this country. Many loved it, many hated it : everyone today must recognize that its impact on political life but also economic, sports and television has been unprecedented wrote Matteo Renzi, one of the strong men of the Italian left.
Silvio Berlusconi ha fatto la storia in questo Paese. Tanti lo hanno amato, tanti lo hanno odiato: tutti oggi devono riconoscere che il suo impatto sulla vita politica ma anche economica, sportiva, television è stato senza precedenti. Oggi l’Italia piange insieme alla famiglia,…
— Matteo Renzi (@matteorenzi) June 12, 2023
AC Milan salutes Berlusconi, its “unforgettable” ex-president
Detained for more than thirty years by Silvio Berlusconi, between 1986 and 2017, AC Milan reacted to the death of its ex-president. ” AC Milan, deeply saddened, mourns the loss of the unforgettable Silvio Berlusconi “, underlines the club. The rossonero club – red and black, Ed. – was considered a monument of European football when the former Italian head of government was its president, in a message on its site. ” Thank you president, forever with us “, he adds.
>> To read also: Football: Silvio Berlusconi and AC Milan, 30 years of big money and trophies
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti on Monday expressed his ” infinite recognition » towards Silvio Berlusconi, who was « determining in his career as captain and technician with AC Milan. “ The sadness of today does not erase the happy times spent together “, Wrote on his Twitter account the former player from 1987 to 1992 and coach from 2001 to 2009, of the Milanese club. AC Monza, which he took over in 2018, a year after selling Milan, and Adriano Galiani, Silvio Berlusconi’s longtime right-hand man, also paid tribute to the memory of the former head of the Italian government.
vladimir Putin pays tribute to a real friend »
In France and internationally, reactions quickly came from the right and the far right. “ An atypical character, with an extraordinary life and a dazzling career, Silvio Berlusconi undeniably marked Italian political life. To Italy in mourning, I send my condolences “, tweeted Marine Le Pen. “ A true monument of politics in Italy and a statesman whom he served with all his might, he was a fervent defender of friendship between our two nations. I send my condolences to his family and to the Italian people “Reacted for his part the boss of the Republicans, Eric Ciotti.
For his part, Viktor Orban also hailed the memory of a ” great fighter “.
Russian President Valdimir Putin also paid tribute to Silvio Berlusconi. “ For me, Silvio was a dear person, a true friend “, he said, in a telegram of condolence addressed to Italian President Sergio Mattarella. The Russian president said he always admired his “ wisdom and praised his “ amazing vital energy “, of his “ optimism » and his « sense of humor “, According to a statement from the Kremlin.
Silvio Berlusconi, a figure who divided Europe
Silvio Berlusconi has been very present on the European political scene, both as President of the Italian Council, but also as a Member of the European Parliament. The President of the European Parliament pays tribute to him this Monday, June 12, but Silvio Berlusconi has left a mixed memory in the hemicycle and in Europe, reports our correspondent in Brussels, Pierre Benazet.
Silvio Berlusconi is a divisive figure within the European Parliament, on the one hand there are those who belong to the same political family as the President of Parliament Roberta Metsola who thanks ” centre-right fighter and adds “he left his mark and will not be forgotten“. But he will not be forgotten either by the left, in particular by the former president of the socialist group, the German Martin Schulz who in 2003 criticized the Italian presidency of the European Union, criticisms to which Silvio Berlusconi responds with a skid who caused consternation: Mr Schulz, I know that in Italy a producer is making a film about the Nazi concentration camps. I will propose you for the role of the kapo. »
Silvio Berlusconi also blew hot and cold, particularly in 2011 when his management of the appalling Italian debt put him on the back of France and Germany before he then chose to resign. In the European Parliament too he resigned twice, in 2001 after two years in office and in 2022 after three years when he was the oldest member of a hemicycle where we especially remember his permanent absenteeism.