“It’s time for us to move forward together. Mergers? We are allies, but distinct from FdI»- Corriere.it

“When there are difficulties, the time comes to close ranks. We must commit ourselves to continue making history, as Berlusconi did for 30 years”. Alessandro Sorte is among the few Azzurri who had access to Villa San Martino right up until the end. Lombard coordinator in place of Licia Ronzulli, friend of Marta Fascina — to whom he is “humanly close today as never before, I know how much he suffers” — Fate rules out the existence of a group of loyal followers of the leader’s companion and instead calls everyone to unity: “I recognize myself in the words of the coordinator Tajani: the president would have asked to move forward together, keeping our values ​​high. We must demonstrate that we have a serious, balanced ruling class that knows how to preside over the moderate area».

How do you do without Berlusconi?

«This is the moment of pain, not of strategies: a man out of the ordinary really leaves us. For us he was the myth, the man of impossible challenges, who knew how to subvert the most obvious results. You couldn’t think of the final word with him.”

And now?
«I think we will have to start afresh from his creature, from how he conceived it, with clear roles of responsibility. Our coordinator is Tajani, he is everyone’s point of reference and we recognize ourselves in him, as with immense gratitude in the Berlusconi family».

But will anything change in the command deck? You were about to hold a summit for new appointments, after those made official yesterday.
«It is true that since before the elections we had been working with the president on a major renewal and relaunch of the party, it made him happy, despite his illness he dedicated a lot of time to FI. Until the very end”.

And what will you do with this work?
«This work is available to some national managers: we will evaluate whether to integrate it or continue it. What matters is that everyone works together.”

Will we try to recover those who had fallen into disgrace?

«But Berlusconi has never thought of excluding anyone. And the rumors about possible organizational charts were fantasies: I, for example, have never even imagined playing the role of area coordinator, I already have so much work to do».

Many think that you run two risks: either a diaspora, perhaps towards Lega, FdI, Renzi, or a forced merger with FdI. Do you fear them?

“We are a government party, represented at the highest levels, we are strong if united. On a merger, I believe that FI has its own precise history and identity, anchored to the EPP. We are allied with but distinct from the Conservatives, just as we are different from those further to the left than us. We are a hyper-Atlantist, pro-European, liberal party: and we must remain so”.

The Political Diary newsletter

If you want to stay updated on political news, subscribe to the newsletter “Political Diary”. It is dedicated to Corriere della Sera subscribers and arrives twice a week at 12. Just click here.