Quirinale, foreign correspondents: “Italy would return from burlesque with Berlusconi”

If Silvio Berlusconi became President of the Republic, “Italy from operetta, Italy of burlesque” would return, squandering that legacy of credibility that the country regained with Mario Draghi at Palazzo Chigi. This is the opinion gathered by the Adnkronos of the main foreign press correspondents in Rome, who are following the political events in view of the election for the Quirinale, to which the candidacy proposed by the center-right, but not yet accepted by Berlusconi, has given a different attention. Between the “disbelief” at the re-emergence of a “condemned character who we thought had now been consigned to the past”. Philip WILLAN, contributor to the British “Times”. “Undoubtedly, in the United Kingdom there is interest in an important election, which gives an indication of the direction of Italy in a delicate moment for Covid and the PNRR. This is a significant choice, even if made in bizarre and archaic way. Then the thing that particularly struck me is the contrast between the figure of Sergio Mattarella and that of Berlusconi, taking for real his possibility of succeeding him: they are two figures at the antipodes, with Mattarella very serious and calm, and Berlusconi much talked about, remembered for the bunga bunga. I am struck by the fact that he does not strike the Italians, I understand that they are used to Berlusconi, but the fact that his allies of the center-right had no qualms about proposing it seems to me a slap in the face of the Italians . If he were to be elected, he would re-propose the image of Italy as a burlesque, an operetta “. Constanze REUSCHER, correspondent for various German media: “Germany’s interest in the elections for the Quirinale revolves around the two issues, what happens to the government if Draghi becomes president, with the concern that, leaving Palazzo Chigi, an executive may return weak, chaotic and who does not make decisions quickly, and Berlusconi’s candidacy. And if Berlusconi became president, I think I would give up the idea I have of taking Italian citizenship: I have lived here for 32 years, I am married to an Italian and my three children grew up here, in addition to paying taxes, I would like to share something else, the Italian identity, if it is based on ethical and moral values ​​and on the values ​​of the Constitution. But the leader of Fi did not give an example of ethics and morality that corresponds to these values, I cannot accept that he is president and it is not acceptable in general for what the Italians have done in recent years, overcoming many crises, from Tangentopoli to Mafia attacks, from the financial crisis to migrants to the pandemic, in whose management they have become a model. They brought out the best of their political and ethical sensitivity and who embodied all these values ​​was David Sassoli, I would have liked him as president. “Valerie SEGOND, correspondent of the French” Le Figaro “:” I am very impressed that in such a strong democracy and as big as the Italian one, the rules of the game for the election to the Quirinale are so obscure, that there is no transparency in the negotiations, that no candidate can express their own vision of institutional balance “. Daniel VERDU PALAY, correspondent of the Spanish” El Pais “:” We are following the election for the Quirinale, usually it was considered secondary, but this time there is more attention. First of all for the short circuit around the figure of Mario Draghi, which is both a solution and a problem in this game, due to the possible instability that could be created. And then there is the disbelief for Berlusconi, who is considered by us a character from the past, convicted of tax fraud, it is sad to think that Italy can give the moral guide of the country to a character like him. Berlusconi can become an agent of chaos and he moves well in turbulence. I would not bet for him, but I would not bet against him. “Udo GUMPEL, correspondent of the German RTL.” I should cheer for him because I know him better than all the other Italian politicians, since I followed him before he even took the field. Joking aside, the surprising thing is that the center-right coalition that wants to govern Italy is proposing a person who has damaged Italy and its image abroad in a profound way and this speaks volumes about its degree of maturity. It is unthinkable that in Italy that expresses the best with Draghi in terms of seriousness, foresight and ability to synthesize, there is serious talk of nominating Berlusconi, whom I do not want to remember for Ruby and his bed stories, but because he was sentenced for escapism. tax. In any country, I’m not saying Germany, which is setting an average example in the management of covid, but even in Russia or China it would be unthinkable that a person convicted of tax evasion could still play a political role. The Italian right is giving an incredible show, they disqualify themselves on a European level. Marcelle PADOVANI, from the French ‘Nouvel Observateur’: “In general in France there is no great interest in the election for the Quirinale, everything is very focused on the person of Mario Draghi, there is a very positive vision of Italy, which for the moment prevents us from considering possible failures. As for Berlusconi’s candidacy, there is great disbelief, a considerable embarrassment, but I don’t think I can do it and I think he doesn’t believe it either, he just tries to use the his candidacy to get something or to participate in the choice of the new president “. Vera SHCHERBAKOVA, of the Russian “Tass”. “The election for the Quirinal in itself is not of great interest to the Russians, it is now attractive due to the presence of Berlusconi. Obviously the leadership follows political events with a different and greater attention and is also interested in Franco Frattini, very much known since he was foreign minister, with whom we have great relations. Draghi president? In Russia they think it would not be too different to have him in one or the other position. Vladimir Putin sent him his best wishes before Christmas, saying that he hopes to meet him soon is an almost official invitation “.