State funeral in Milan in farewell to Silvio Berlusconi, former Prime Minister of Italy, June 14, 2023

A state funeral will take place in the cathedral of Milan today, Wednesday, to say goodbye Silvio Berlusconiwith the presence of numerous Italian and European authorities.

It’s about some unprecedented honor in Italy’s democratic history, which have left many members of the opposition incomprehension, who wonder whether they should commit to one of the most controversial figures remembered in the country.

Specifically, the funeral will take place in the “Duomo” at 3 p.m. local time (1 p.m. GMT), which will be attended by the Italian head of state, Sergio Mattarellaand the prime minister Georgia Meloniamong other things.

In addition, giant screens will be installed so that people can follow the funeral live via a television signal produced by Mediaset, the magnate’s media conglomerate.

At the moment, the authorities have not defined the maximum capacity expected to be allowed into the temple, whose maximum capacity is about 5000 people.

The country’s highest authorities have been invited to this state funeral and European representatives are also expected on this day of national mourning.

Yesterday, relatives and friends of Berlusconi They said their last goodbyes to the late three-time Prime Minister of Italy at the age of 86 at San Raffaele Hospital in Milan.

The politician and businessman had been ill for a while, and it was bothering him chronic myelomonocytic leukemia. Berlusconi was admitted to hospital last Friday, three weeks after being discharged for 44 days in hospital with pneumonia.

The health of the Forza Italia founder had deteriorated in recent months, with hospital admissions continuing, and concern had increased significantly in recent hours.

Reactions inside and outside Italy

Italian Prime Minister, Georgia Meloni, has justified Berlusconi as “one of the most influential men in the history of Italy”. “Berlusconi was above all a fighter, a man who was never afraid to defend his convictions, with courage and determination,” said his ally in the Italian government.

The leader of the League, the other formation of the Executive, Matthew Salvini, lamented the death of “a great man and a great Italian”. The leader of the Democratic Party (PD), Enrico Lettapointed out that his death affects the whole country because Berlusconi “made history”, a recognition also granted by the president of the 5 Star Movement (M5S), Giuseppe Conte. Even his opponents, Conte added, can recognize that “he has never lacked courage, passion and tenacity”.

former prime minister Matthew Renzi, has confirmed that it evoked all sorts of feelings – “many loved it, many hated it” – but it has influenced that, regardless of political considerations, “it made history”. another former prime minister roman producthas emphasized his “long and intense” public commitment which has exerted “great influence” in Italy.

He Pope Francisco He remembered him as “a protagonist” of national politics and for his “energetic temperament”. In a telegram, he conveyed to his family “his closeness, which made him participate sincerely in the mourning for the loss of a protagonist in Italian political life”.

In the European Union, the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsol, has singled out Berlusconi as a “fighter” who led the centre-right. “He has left his mark and will not be forgotten,” he assured.

In the international arena, the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, has remembered him as a “magnificent person” and a “true patriot”, who helped to improve relations between Russia and European countries at the time. “He was a world-class politician. There aren’t many people like him anymore in the international arena,” he said.