13th June, 2023
World leaders have paid tribute to former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who died at the age of 86.
Berlusconi died of complications from chronic leukemia at San Raffaele Hospital in Milan on Monday.
Reactions from national and international leaders highlighted Berlusconi’s enormous influence on his country during a three-decade political career and a half-century as a key actor in Italian media.
Berlusconi, according to Italian President Sergio Mattarella, “made a mark on the history of our Republic” and was a “protagonist for long periods of Italian politics and the institutions of the Republic.”
Berlusconi’s leadership “contributed to shaping a new political geography in Italy, enabling him to serve as Prime Minister four times,” Mattarella added.
Meanwhile, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni described Berlusconi as “a man who was never afraid to defend his convictions.”
“It was his bravery that made Berlusconi one of the most important figures in Italian history.”
Mario Draghi, former head of the European Central Bank and the previous prime minister of Italy before Meloni, lauded Berlusconi’s “extraordinary spirit of initiative and innovation.”
Officials in Vatican City said Pope Francis had written a message to Berlusconi’s family, expressing their “heartfelt participation in mourning the loss of a key figure in Italian political life, who held public responsibilities with an energetic temperament.”
According to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the deceased “led Italy during a period of political transition and has since continued to shape his beloved country.”
Mario Draghi, former governor of the European Central Bank and the previous prime minister of Italy before Meloni, praised Berlusconi’s “extraordinary spirit of initiative and innovation.”
In the Vatican City, officials said Pope Francis had sent a telegram to Berlusconi’s family expressing their “heartfelt participation in mourning the loss of a key figure in Italian political life, who held public responsibilities with energetic temperament.”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen tweeted that Berlusconi “led Italy in a time of political transition and since then continued to shape his beloved country.”
In expressing his condolences, French President Emmanuel Macron described Berlusconi as a “major figure in contemporary Italy.”
According to media sources, Russian President Vladimir Putin described the Italian leader as “a dear person and a true friend.”
Italy has proclaimed Wednesday, the day of Berlusconi’s funeral at Milan’s Duomo Cathedral, a “national day of mourning.”
Xinhua/NAN