Criticism of national mourning for Berlusconi

2023-06-14 05:55:06

The Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad, and the Chairman of the European People’s Party (EPP), Manfred Weber, are expected to attend. The EU Economic Commissioner, the Italian Paolo Gentiloni, will represent EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

The names of some foreign politicians traveling to Milan have not been released for security reasons, the government said. Austria is represented by its ambassador to Italy, Jan Kickert. Present are Italy’s President Sergio Mattarella, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and 32 members of the government as well as the entire squad of Berlusconi’s right-wing conservative party Forza Italia, junior partner of the coalition in Rome.

2,300 people are admitted to the funeral ceremony in Milan Cathedral. The Mass will be celebrated by Archbishop Mario Delpini of Milan. Two giant screens were set up in the Cathedral Square for the crowd to watch the ceremony. The subway station near Milan Cathedral has been closed and access to the square is strictly controlled.

Photo gallery: Italy’s ex-prime minister Silvio Berlusconi is dead

Silvio Berlusconi is dead (Photo: MIGUEL MEDINA (AFP)) Bild 1/25

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A day of mourning was announced in Italy for Wednesday and all flags were flown at half-mast. Work in Parliament will be suspended for the whole week. Politicians from all camps sent their condolences to the Berlusconi family.

Criticism and state mourning

The 86-year-old Berlusconi died on Monday in the San Raffaele clinic in Milan. He suffered from chronic leukemia. The Milan media mogul has left a profound mark on Italy’s political landscape since entering politics in 1994. The Senate observed a minute’s silence on Wednesday afternoon in honor of the President of Forza Italia.

The government’s decision to hold a state funeral and declare national mourning for Berlusconi has been contested by opposition figures. They criticized the quasi “canonization” of Berlusconi by his media. The Social Democratic Senator Andrea Crisanti spoke clear words, describing the decision of the day of mourning as “inappropriate”. “I understand the pain that Berlusconi’s passing has caused not only in his family, to whom my sincere condolences go, but also in his political community, which has identified with his political course and his person. However, I have to express my firm opposition to him a state funeral, which I consider inappropriate, and a national day of mourning for the former prime minister,” said Crisanti, referring to the many scandals in which Berlusconi was involved.

Paolo Romano, Social Democrat regional councilor in Lombardy, wrote to Prime Minister Meloni to protest the day of mourning. “Berlusconi was convicted of tax fraud, he made economic agreements with the mafia, he made us Italians in Europe and the world look ridiculous with his private affairs. He doesn’t deserve a day of mourning,” criticized the social democratic representative in a post.