Silvio Berlusconi almost married Marta Fascina

It wasn’t enough for the Quirinal, the seat of the President, but it was for the port of marriage. Or more precisely: the haven of love. Because in the end he didn’t really get married: Silvio Berlusconi, the defining figure of Italian politics of the last thirty years, married his 53-year-old partner Marta Fascina on Saturday in the Villa Gernetto, a rural palace near Monza promised love.

The Italian media spread, the young MP from Berlusconi’s Forza Italia party actually wanted more: a real marriage, civil and religious, with all the trimmings. However, the children of the 85-year-old businessman and politician spoke out against this – for genetic reasons. Berlusconi is still one of the richest Italians. His fortune is according to Forbes magazine to around 6.8 billion euros.

It is possible that Silvione, as they also call him in Italy, no longer wanted a formal marriage himself. The separation from his second wife was a disaster for him, both financially and in terms of communication.

Berlusconi has come to rest

So it stayed with the trimmings: white wedding dress, wedding cake, exquisite menu, gifts. “My love for you, Marta, is great,” Berlusconi said at the ceremony according to the reporters of the «Corriere della Sera»who had access to the event. «You are indispensable for me, you stood by me in difficult moments, you supported me. You complete me. I couldn’t live without you,” said Berlusconi, who even serenaded at the end with French chansons and “O mia bela Madunina”, the unofficial anthem of the city of Milan.

So much romance, so much pomposity: It seems as if the Cavaliere has finally come to rest at the age of 85 and has become mild – he, who in the past with lavish festivals and wild bunga-bunga parties, at which he with very young women amused, made a name for itself.

Just a few months ago it looked like he wanted to do it again despite health problems. Initially supported by Italy’s right-wing parties, he made himself available for the presidency. The attempt failed, after a turbulent week, Sergio Mattarella was elected for another term, Italy and its EU partners breathed a sigh of relief.

So now the retreat from Rome to his northern Italian homeland, the idyllic near-marriage and a guest list on which high politics was only very sparingly represented. In addition to family members and friends, only old companions from Berlusconi’s early days as entrepreneurs and party founders were invited. Even the incumbent ministers of his party were not present at Villa Gernetto.

Surprise guest Salvini

Only one caused a big surprise: Matteo Salvini, the head of the Lega. His presence had not previously been communicated. Now he suddenly appeared. Pictures show him next to Berlusconi cutting the wedding cake. The Forza Italia founder praised him as the only “true leader in Italy”. Salvini is an honest man whom he admires and likes.

For the Lega boss, this was balm on his wounds. He recently got bad press in Italy for his erratic performances on the Polish-Ukrainian border and his tortuous criticism of his former idol Putin. Even within the Lega, his trip and his comments on the Ukraine crisis were highly controversial.

And so the private finally became political. It seemed that the love festival at Monza also served to seal the friendship between two men who struggled in different ways with the guile of the times.