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Tributes poured in, Monday, June 12, from all overItaly to salute the memory of Silvio Berlusconi, died in the morning at 86 years old. Starting with the head of the Italian government Giorgia Meloni who, like other personalities of the peninsula, hailed “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 defend 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.

Read also Silvio Berlusconi, populist master who dominated Italian politics, dies at 86

“Berlusconi was a great political leader who marked the history of our Republic”, reacted for his part the Head of State Sergio Mattarella in a press release, praising “a person of great humanity and a successful entrepreneur” .

“Today, a great Italian leaves us”

“Today a great Italian is leaving us. One of the greatest ever, in all areas. But today, above all, I am losing a great friend. I am devastated and I rarely cry but today is the case”, reacted his ally Matthew Salvinileader of the Anti-Migrant League.

“Immense pain. Simply thank you President, thank you Silvio”, tweeted his right arm Antonio Tajani, Minister of Foreign Affairs.

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. “It’s the worst thing we might (have to) do today,” said presenter Federica Panicucci, sobbing.

“Thank you President, forever with us,” reacted his former football club, AC Milan, which he owned for more than 30 years (1986-2017), saying he was “deeply saddened”.

AC Monza, another football club owned since 2018 by Silvio Berlusconi, and Adriano Galiani, the businessman’s longtime right-hand man and former head of government, said they “mourn the disappearance” of the “Cavaliere” .

His political adversaries also paid tribute to him. Former Presidents of the Council Matthew Renzi et Mario Draghi both highlighted the crucial role played by Silvio Berlusconi in Italian public life.

“Silvio Berlusconi entered the history of this country. Many loved him, many hated him: everyone must now recognize that his impact on political life, but also on the economy, sport and television, was unprecedented,” Matteo Renzi tweeted.

A “dear person” and a “true friend”, salutes Vladimir Putin

Abroad, a handful of leaders have also paid tribute to Silvio Berlusconi. Vladimir Poutine was among the first to react. The Russian president hailed a “dear person” and a “true friend” endowed with “incredible vital energy”, praising his “optimism” and his “sense of humor”. A personal friend of Vladimir Putin, received in his mega-villa in Sardinia, Silvio Berlusconi has repeatedly blamed kyiv for the war with Moscow.

Pope Francis, himself hospitalized, praised the “energetic temperament” of the former Italian Prime Minister. The Argentine pope expressed his “support” for the Cavaliere family, a “protagonist of Italian political life who assumed public responsibilities with an energetic temperament”, according to a telegram published in a press release from the Vaticanand addressed to his eldest daughter Marina.

“His Holiness invokes the eternal peace of the Lord for him and the consolation of the heart for those who mourn his departure”, adds this telegram signed on behalf of the Pope by the Secretary of State and N.2 of the Holy See, Cardinal Pietro parolin.

“Rest in peace my friend,” said Hungarian nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban, captioning a photo he posted on Twitter showing him with Berlusconi, hailing a “great fighter”.

For British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, speaking through his official spokesperson, “Silvio Berlusconi left a considerable imprint on Italian politics for several decades”.

In Spain, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, leader of the People’s Party (PP, right-wing opposition) and favorite in the legislative elections on July 23, also stressed that the Cavaliere had “marked the political history of Italy for several decades”.

“Silvio was a great friend of Israel and always supported us,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, saying he was “deeply saddened”.