The Italian political class said goodbye to the former prime minister on MondaySilvio Berlusconi, whom everyone agrees to remember as a historical figure for Italy, both for his various stages at the head of the Government and for his work as a businessman, focused on the media.

To the League leader Matteo Salvini, the news has surprised him during a visit to inaugurate a new headquarters of the Coast Guard. In his first statements, he lamented the death of “a great man and a great Italian”, with whom he wove in recent years the right-wing alliance that he governs today, Italian media reported.

The leader of Democratic Party (PD), Enrico Letta, has pointed out that Berlusconi’s death affects the entire country because Berlusconi “made history”, a recognition that has also been 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.”

In this sense, the former prime minister and current leader of Italia Viva, Matteo Renzihas affirmed that Berlusconi generated all kinds of feelings during his life –“many loved him, many hated him”–, but has stressed that, regardless of political considerations, “he made history”.

According to Romano Prodi, former Prime Minister and former president of the European Commission, a person with a “long and intense” public commitment who has exerted a “great influence” in Italy has died. Thus, despite the political “rivalry” that existed between the two, he stressed that he always maintained “mutual respect” with Berlusconi.