After 29 years, Forza Italia elects a new secretary (unanimously): Antonio Tajani

A minute’s silence punctuated by thunderous applause recalled the founder of the party Silvio Berlusconi, who disappeared a month ago. The new secretary Tajani was so moved that he wanted to read a letter-good wishes, sent by the Berlusconi family to the whole Council: “Thank you for everything you will do starting today to continue the ideals of freedom, progress and democracy, which have always distinguished his thought and his actions. With best wishes for a good job”.

“An important day – he says Paolo Barelli – divided between the emotion that the president is no longer here, but on the other hand the desire to go forward in the wake of the mission that he has given us”.

“From now to the National Congress we have to rewrite the democratic rules for a party that had a great enlightened leadership in Silvio Berlusconi to a party in search of merit and more participatory”, he adds Licia Ronzulli.

Secretary Tajani concluding his speech was moved when speaking of his family who have always supported and encouraged him throughout his political career. “If I have achieved any results in my political life, I owe it above all to my wife, my children and my family. I apologize to them if I have stolen affection, time, moments of joy, but I always have, and they know it, because I believed in it and because I believe in it” says Antonio Tajani closing his inauguration speech at the Parco dei Principi hotel.

On the statement released by Minister Lollobrigida which linked the Brothers of Italy to the history of Cav. and Forza Italia, replies the Minister for Public Administration Paul Zangrillo: “Fratelli d’Italia is an ally that has been with us for a long time with whom we share many values, however the composition of the centre-right, and I think this is the strength of this formula, is made up of parties which, despite having many things in common, have a own identity: we are from Forza Italia and we distinguish ourselves both from the friends of the Brothers of Italy and from the League”

And of the same position it is Giorgio Mulè who adds: “it is the women and men of Forza Italia who continue the action of Silvio Berlusconi, who created the centre-right”. Tajani will have to steer the party towards the Congress which will be held next year, certainly before the European ones, but is there room for a female leader at the helm of Forza Italia? ” I never make a distinction between men and women, I make a distinction between abilities: they are capable or not capable. And the person who runs for Congress must be a person capable of still driving our party. I am not interested in women or men” he concludes Licia Ronzulli.