Carlo Rossella: “Berlusconi is unique and unrepeatable, a great man like Totò. Forza Italia is dead, its companies are not”

“There is no other Berlusconi.” Carlo Rossella, a lifelong friend and collaborator of the Cavaliere did not expect such a quick epilogue. «No, I really didn’t expect it, I have lost a dear friend. Of course he was ill but such a rapid evolution really left me speechless ».

And now what happens: what legacy does he leave?

“None. After him there is nothing. He leaves memories, anecdotes, a considerable financial legacy but no politics. Berlusconi cannot have an heir. There is no one who has his characteristics as an entrepreneur and political leader, and in any case I don’t see any around. The new Cavaliere is not there: he doesn’t exist both for financial, industrial and political reasons. Berlusconi is unique and unrepeatable of his kind ».

And of his political invention, Forza Italia, what will be left of who will be able to carry on his imprint?

«Forza Italia died with him. Nothing will remain, destined to dissolve. That party legacy is already over, dead with its founder. That party, that movement thus created from above ends in a few months because Silvio Berlusconi had founded it in his image and likeness. There are no other men who can have his characteristics, his efficiency, but above all his empathy. Just think of Berlusconi’s mimicry, who has a mimicry like him? Nobody…”.

How do you see the future for the properties, for your companies, TVs and Mediaset: will there be family continuity, will they remain in the hands of the children or will they be sold?

«The problem is political, the companies are in good hands, they are important companies, listed on the stock exchange, and then there is Fedele Confalonieri, his children, Marina, the problem is not what will happen to material inheritance, industrial or financial possessions but on the side of the country and on the political vacuum that closes with its historical phase…».

Why, do you think that mimicry counted so much for the popularity of Berlusconi and his thirty years of political life?

«Berlusconi had the mimicry of a great comic actor: he was extraordinary. If I had to compare him to someone I would say that he was a great actor like Totò ».

But was he holier, as many portray him, or more demon as others tell him?

“He was an Italian. Berlusconi had all the vices and virtues of the Italians starting with sympathy. He was one of us, one of us, and for this reason the Italians loved him and voted for him ».

But more vices or more defects?

“We know the vices, we saw the virtues in action both when he was an entrepreneur and when he led the government and the defect was that he was too nice”.

Yes, but being nice is not a defect…

«In his case yes, he was too nice, if he had been less so they would have voted for him even more».

That’s why he told all those jokes…

«Yes, of course, an author’s classic. I don’t know who told them to him but in the many years I’ve worked with him you’ve never told me the same joke, a new one every time».

The most critical, however, point out that he also told many jokes to the Italians…

“Anyway, they were all good jokes that made you laugh… And he made you laugh and also knew how to govern, while others only made you laugh while they govern”.

And what will remain of the companies that he leaves?

“The problem is political, the companies are in good hands, there is Fedele Confalonieri, the children, Marina, the problem is not with the material inheritance but with the country…”.

Was there anyone better than Berlusconi?

«Not even in the first Republic there was someone like the Knight. Indeed, only one is comparable to him, Romano Prodi».

And in fact he beat him twice…

“The two were very similar, but a certain type of electorate liked Berlusconi more than Prodi but Prodi, according to that electorate, had more qualities than him”.