Larger than life character outside of politics; immense success in media and sport. Think he was the longest running politician in Italy, could work a coalition. Could make a deal like no other and Laura Bush loved him – said he was the only leader who came to the White House and never asked for a thing – and he did love to sing.
When I marched against the war in 2003 and spent hours walking through the piazzas in Rome, alongside millions of protesters, there was no coverage on the television that evening. That made me mad, and yet…
…he made sure Italy did not send one single soldier to the Iraq war. Peacekeepers, yes, and some died, but soldiers to fight and kill, no.
I live in northern Italy and they liked him quite a lot. Even his critics are kind, and why not. He was a lion.
Rest in Peace Silvio Berlusconi