‘Silvio, Silvio’: Berlusconi divides Italy even at his funeral

MILAN – Italy bade

farewell to four-time prime minister Silvio Berlusconi

on Wednesday at a funeral befitting the business tycoon’s colourful life, with mourners bellowing football chants and politicians arguing over a day of national mourning.

Crowds waving the flags of the AC Milan soccer club Mr Berlusconi used to own chanted “Silvio, Silvio” as his coffin was carried inside Milan’s gothic cathedral, flanked by ceremonially dressed Carabinieri police with plumed helmets.

Inside were some 2,300 mourners, including the women, politicians and businessmen who had accompanied the 86-year-old during his rise to power and riches.

Ms Marta Fascina, the 33-year-old politician who was Mr Berlusconi’s partner during his final years, wept alongside his eldest daughter Marina, who is

expected to inherit his media empire

and, some speculate, even his political legacy.

Mr Berlusconi will be cremated and his ashes held in a mausoleum he built for himself and his family on the grounds of his villa outside Milan, a source close to the family told Reuters.

The conservative Forza Italia party he founded dominated Italian politics for much of the last 30 years, while his business empire stretched from real estate to publishing.

He was a highly divisive figure who set the mould for other businessmen turned politicians like former US president Donald Trump, with

a career punctuated by scandals and legal trials.

The funeral homily by Milan’s Archbishop Mario Delpini appeared to acknowledge Mr Berlusconi’s excesses as well as his qualities.

“What can we say about Silvio Berlusconi? He was a man: a desire for life, a desire for love, a desire for joy.”

The divisions over Mr Berlusconi were as visible as ever on the day of his funeral, with arguments breaking out between the thousands of his admirers outside the cathedral and a few people who had come to criticise him.

“I was lucky enough to be a part of Forza Italia for 18 years. I was also lucky enough to meet him,” said Ms Lucia Adiele, a Forza Italia member who travelled nearly 1,000km from her home in Altamura, southern Italy.

“The least I could do was to be here and say goodbye for the last time.”

Stadium atmosphere

In an atmosphere often more similar to that of a soccer match than a funeral, another group of Berlusconi supporters jumped up and down, shouting “anyone who doesn’t jump is a communist” – a term Mr Berlusconi often used to discredit his political opponents.

The funeral was attended by most Italian party leaders, including Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, whose unprecedented decision to declare a day of national mourning drew criticism from some commentators and politicians.

Ms Meloni’s party, Brothers of Italy, Mr Matteo Salvini’s League, and Forza Italia are the main parties in the right-wing ruling coalition.

Some opposition politicians, including former premier Giuseppe Conte, refused to attend the service, while former centre-left minister Rosy Bindi said an “inappropriate sanctification” was taking place.

The day of mourning is not a public holiday, but rather a symbolic tribute in which flags fly at half-mast from public buildings. The European Parliament and the European Commission also decided to pay their respects in this manner.

Mr Tomaso Montanari, rector of Siena’s University for Foreigners, refused to respect the order, saying that by flying flags at half-mast for Mr Berlusconi, his university would “lose all educational and moral credibility”.

Ms Bindi, a woman who was often a target of Mr Berlusconi’s sexist jibes, said the national day of mourning was “disrespectful towards the majority” who opposed the late leader.

Among those who attended the funeral were Italy’s President Sergio Mattarella and former prime ministers Mario Draghi and Mario Monti; Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani; and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban was also present, but few other top European politicians made the trip to Milan.

“There’s only one president, there’s only one president,” the crowds chanted as the coffin emerged from the cathedral into bright sunshine at the end of the service, in another tweaked version of a popular soccer chant.

The coffin was then driven to Mr Berlusconi’s villa, where the former leader will lie until the cremation takes place in a few days.

The message from his five children published in Italy’s main newspapers on Wednesday read: “Sweetest Dad, thank you for your life, thank you for your love, you will always live inside us.” REUTERS