One ‘funeral in the square’ con i big screens, and the crowd under the Madonnina. Everything is ready in Milan for a last farewell to Silvio Berlusconi. For the state funeral, today at 3 pm in the Cathedral, the highest institutional offices, the world of politics, sport and entertainment will join the family to remember the former Prime Minister, who passed away at the age of 86.
The government will be ‘fully deployed’. Also present were Draghi, Renzi and Schlein
12:49 Dozens and dozens of wreaths at the Duomo
There are dozens and dozens of wreaths positioned in front of the entrance to the Milan Cathedral. On the left side of the cathedral, there are the crowns sent by the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, by the Kuwaiti ambassador Nasser Alqahtani, by the mayor of Rome Roberto Gualtieri, by the Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, by the Senato di Forza Italy, the Brothers of Italy, Senator Licia Ronzulli, the Abruzzo Region, the Italian Socialist Party, the Constitutional Court and the Israeli Embassy.
Many other crowns find space along the 900 museum. The whole square is armored, the shutters of the shops are down, and a silent crowd of people is crowding the side access streets.
12:47 Supporters and fans from all over Italy at Villa San Martino
There are many supporters and admirers waiting at Villa San Martino, in Arcore. From here the coffin will leave with the body of the founder of Forza Italia which will be taken to the Cathedral at 3 pm for the State Funeral. During the morning some fans arrived from far away such as a boy from Friuli Venezia Giulia and a Milan ultra from Abruzzo.
12:44 In Piazza Duomo, the “Silvio Silvio” choir with applause
There are two and a half hours until the funeral begins but the “Silvio Silvio” choir has risen from the square accompanied by applause.
12:31 Over 700 accredited journalists
More than 700 media representatives have signed up with the prefecture of Milan to be able to participate in the funeral. There is no press area inside the Cathedral, where only 2,300 people will be able to enter, half the capacity of the basilica, of which 1,800 are seated. For journalists in the square, behind the big screens, there are two ad hoc cordoned off areas, where they can wait for the arrival of the coffin of the former prime minister, his family, and illustrious guests.
12:16 Coffin will return to Arcore after the funeral
After the funeral in the Cathedral, the coffin should return to Villa San Martino, in Arcore, awaiting a transfer to Valenza Po, in the province of Alessandria, for cremation.
12:07 Among the crowns in the square also that of Belen Rodriguez
Among the wreaths arranged along the side of the Museo del Novecento facing Piazza Duomo, stands that of Belen Rodriguez. The second in a series, opened by that of Lega Serie B, the mayor of Naples Gaetano Manfredi, the Milan club Paris who says “thank you president”, Rai, Lapo Elkann and his wife Joana Lemos, from the Lazio Region. In the churchyard of Piazza Duomo there are currently about fifteen crowns already aligned, one next to the other. Among these also that of the Minister of Justice
12:04 The flags of the Court of Milan at half-mast
Italian flag at half-mast for the day of national mourning also on top of the Palace of Justice in Milan, in front of the main entrance. An image of strong impact after that for a few decades the Tribunal represented the main scenario of the clash between Silvio Berlusconi and the magistrates.
11:29 Berlusconi will be cremated in Valencia, then the ashes in Arcore
Silvio Berlusconi will be cremated in the ‘Panta Rei’ crematorium in Valenza, in the province of Alessandria. Later the ashes will be brought back to Arcore to be kept in the family mausoleum.
Quota entry to the square
Despite the enormous security measures envisaged, entry to the square will be free, even if limited, with barriers from the morning (to contain 10,000, at most 15,000 people). About 2000 will sit inside the cathedral.
The ceremony will be celebrated by the Archbishop of Milan, Mario Delpini, in the presence of the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella and the presidents of the chambers, Ignazio La Russa and Lorenzo Fontana.
The leaders present
They will attend the funeral by the Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and the two deputy prime ministers, Matteo Salvini and Antonio Tajani. Meloni and Salvini, accompanied by La Russa, have already gone to pay homage to the funeral home of the Knight in the evening, spending about an hour at Villa San Martino, with Berlusconi’s children. The entrances into the cathedral have been carefully selected and timed: the family will sit on the right side of the nave, the authorities on the left.
There will be Berlusconi’s longtime friends and collaborators, Fedele Confalonieri and Gianni Letta, the entire Mediaset world, representatives of the entertainment industry and delegations from football and sports clubs.
The presence of the former presidents of the Council is also expected Mario Draghi and Matteo Renziwhile Romano Prodi, mourning the sudden loss of his wife Flavia, canceled his participation.
The secretary of the Pd Elly Schlein and the leader of Action Carlo Calenda confirmed their presence, as well as a large parliamentary representation from FI. The president of the M5s Giuseppe Conte will not be there.
The heads of state of three countries are expected from abroad, the Iraqi president, Abdul Latif Rashid, the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and both the captains regent of the Republic of San Marino, Alessandro Scarano and Adele Tonnini.
Confirmed the presence of the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, and of the Foreign Ministers of Croatia, Gordan Grli-Radman; Kosovo, Meliza Haradinaj-Stublla; Malta, Ian Borg; and Tunisia, Nabil Ammar. As well as representatives of the governments of Armenia, the Netherlands, Serbia and a special envoy of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. There will also be 47 ambassadors and seven charge d’affaires.
The ceremonial
Today’s program was studied by the prefecture and the ceremonies down to the smallest detail, the subject of various meetings and site inspections. The coffin will leave from Arcore and he will arrive in Piazza Duomo surrounded by six carabinieri in full uniform, as required by the state funeral formula. Military honors will be paid to him at the entrance and exit of the ceremony. The entry of the authorities is expected at 14:45. Mattarella will be the last to enter the cathedral, immediately after the coffin.
As for the ceremony, the homily will be given by Archbishop Delpini and, at present, no official commemorative oration in the church seems to be planned. The media will be placed in the square near the churchyard: there will be a space dedicated to cameramen and photographers, to the right of the Duomo, and another for journalists to the left, mirrored, in front of the giant screens.
The remediation, with anti-explosive dogs and the removal of the waste bins, will start from the early hours of the morning. For reasons of public order it will be the Duomo underground station is closed from 10 to 18 today and several tram and bus lines will be diverted.
National mourning
Today was also marked by criticism of the decision to add ai State funerals also national mourning. “An inopportune decision” for such a “divisive” politician, defined it by former minister Rosy Bindi. While the choice was defended by the majority and also by the Third Pole. The controversy was also ignited by Tomaso Montanari, rector of the University for Foreigners of Siena, who announced that in his university there would be no flags at half-mast as required by national mourning.
Historical allies
Among the historical allies, the founder of the Lega Umberto Bossi should not miss his participation in the funeral. The presence of Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni, and for the EPP, of President Manfred Weber is also expected.