Antonino Galofaro, edited by Yanis Darras / Photo credit: MIGUEL MEDINA / AFP
Italy is preparing to bid farewell to former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi on Wednesday at a state funeral that is expected to host thousands of people, including the peninsula’s top politicians but few foreign dignitaries. The official funeral of the billionaire, who died Monday at the age of 86 from leukemia, will begin at 3:00 p.m. (1:00 p.m. GMT) at Milan Cathedral.
The ceremony must be broadcast on giant screens positioned on the famous square of the Lombard capital and the forecourt of the cathedral to allow all those who cannot enter to follow it. The President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella, the Head of Government Giorgia Meloni and his two Deputy Prime Ministers, Matteo Salvini and Antonio Tajani – number two of his Forza Italia party – will be present.
“An inopportune choice”?
The European Commission will be represented by its Commissioner for the Economy, the Italian Paolo Gentiloni, former chief executive in Rome. This state funeral, provided for by protocol, will be accompanied by a day of national mourning, a first for a former Prime Minister who is not, however, to the taste of all Italians.
“The state funeral is planned and it is right, but the national mourning for a divisive person like Silvio Berlusconi seems to me an inappropriate choice”, thus expressed Rosy Bindi, former left-wing minister in the Prodi II government. (2006-2008) on public radio.
But in Milan, many are already going there to say “ciao” to the man who was president of the Council of Ministers three times. Vittorio and Ida, both from Milan, are looking for the best possible place in Duomo Square to watch the ceremony. But they are afraid of not being able to see anything. “There are thousands of places in the cathedral, but outside, I don’t know. The rest doesn’t interest me”, explains Ida at the microphone of Europe 1.
At least 20,000 people expected
The workers set up two giant screens on the forecourt. Alessandro sits near the statue of King Victor-Emmanuel II, looking sad. He will not be able to attend the funeral. “I wanted to come, but I can’t. My employer won’t release me. I would have liked to say goodbye to him,” he says, saddened.
But there are also those Milanese who will avoid the Duomo square at all costs. “I am surprised that many consider him now that he is dead as a person to be beatified”, annoys a resident of the city. At least 20,000 people are expected for Silvio Berlusconi’s funeral this afternoon.