Milano: Silvio Berlusconi's state funeral today. More than two thousand people are expected

Milano: Silvio Berlusconi's state funeral today. More than two thousand people are expected

There will be more than two thousand people to attend the state funeral of Silvio Berlusconi planned in the Cathedral of Milano today at 15pm. The former prime minister's family will be seated on the right of the central nave while the authorities will be on the left.
There will be many who will pay homage to him together with the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella: party colleagues, government allies but also political opponents. Prime Minister Meloni will be present – who already last night visited the funeral home together with the President of the Senate La Russa and the Deputy Prime Minister Salvini – with the government in full force.

And then ministers of the Cavaliere's executives, dozens of mayors of Forza Italia. There will be the president of Italia Viva Matteo Renzi, the leader of Action Carlo Calenda, the former Prime Minister Mario Draghi. For the opposition, the secretary of the Democratic Party Elly Schlein will be present, while the president of the 5 Star Movement Giuseppe Conte nor the leader of the Italian Left Nicola Fratoianni will not be present. The European Commission will be represented by Paolo Gentiloni but there will also be several foreign ministers and ambassadors, as well as the president of the EPP Manfred Weber.

The Hungarian Prime Minister Orban, the Iraqi President Sharid and the Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad will arrive from abroad. Also expected are delegations from the Milan and Monza teams and many old glories of the Cavaliere's Milan, starting with Franco Baresi, a historic friend of the former prime minister.

Two large screens will be set up in the square to allow citizens to follow the ceremony.
Silvio Berlusconi's coffin, escorted by six carabinieri in full uniform, will remain in the churchyard for a few minutes before entering the cathedral. In any case the TVs – Mediaset in the lead but also Rai 1, Rainews24, La7 and Sky Tg24 - they will follow the funeral live. Meanwhile, Villa San Martino in Arcore was also a pilgrimage destination yesterday. Many ordinary people, coming from all over Italy, who wanted to pay homage to Berlusconi. The Monza fans left the banner "Thank you forever president" and many people wanted to bring tributes, flowers and cards. Among the well-known faces, the actor Massimo Boldi, the former senators Dell'Utri and Razzi arrived for a last private farewell.