«Justice for Berlusconi, he loves women but no obscenity in Arcore. I paid for envy»- Corriere.it

Director Emilio Fede, happy with Silvio Berlusconi’s acquittal?

«I’m happy – replies tonic, despite being 91 years old, the journalist who after a long career at Rai started the first news program at Mediaset (then Fininvest) and was linked to the Cavaliere by a strong friendship – I expected it because I lived next to him for years and years, as a true friend, not as an accomplice in revelry. However…”.

However?

“This ruling should have come sooner. This lengthy justice is a drama. I know it well that I have been living under house arrest for eight years (and is moved, ed). I wasn’t even able to go and vote…».

So, was there no truth to the allegations?

«Under oath I can say that I have never seen filth, vulgar exhibitions, hard scenes. I attended these dinners and at midnight I left. I went to the newsstand in Piazzale Loreto to be able to preview Berlusconi’s newspapers».

Berlusconi loved to invite many women…

«Yes, because he loves them, like me. In Sicily they say: it’s masculine… But everything that has been said and written has been a crazy exaggeration. He even involved and overwhelmed me, who from morning to night found myself fired. And for years you’ve been asking in vain: why?

Perhaps those invitations to the dinners at Arcore were a little too broad, director.

«It may be that the guardianship hasn’t been too careful… I’m not sure who made the invitations».

You yourself have been accused of being one of the “recruiters”.

«Look (and still moved, ed), thinking of the person I loved the most (his wife Diana De Feo, who passed away in June 2021), I can say that I have never invited anyone. Only once have I walked home a girl whose name I don’t even remember.’

They say it was you who introduced Ruby to Arcore.

“What are we kidding? Of all that has been said, only a small part is true. Ruby I saw her at one of the evening among the many guests. Nothing more».

Does the acquittal sentence do justice to Berlusconi?

“It was enormous suffering for him. His honor has remained unchanged, enemies say what they want.’

But what did Berlusconi represent for our country?

«His descent into the field marked a historic turning point. He was a boy who dreamed of crossing Italy on a fast train…».

Did he succeed?

«I don’t know, I would wonder who is capable of it. He partially succeeded. But the enemies, who may not be too far from him, have always tried in every way, including the judicial one, to prevent him from doing so. He loves Italy, he considers it his home. He would do anything to make it more beautiful and more welcoming. Many others around him, on the other hand, are only looking for the exhibition”.

Are you still friends?

“I speak to him as a friend. He called me a couple of Christmases ago to invite me to his house but I had to decline because I had just returned from a bad fall and didn’t feel like getting around in a wheelchair. But we text each other. We continue to love each other.”

Safe?

«I feel absolutely calm, I have never abused him and his friendship. Indeed, in the past I rejected his proposal to take me to the Senate because I only wanted to be a journalist”.

Then why did you end up in so much trouble?

«Envy is an ugly beast. The fact that I was so close to Silvio obviously disturbed someone. Some of his family circle may not have liked it.’

Berlusconi had also promised her a place in his family mausoleum in Arcore.

«Look, I would like to join my wife anyway (and the voice cracks, ed), but I confirm that the place was. Because upstream there was a loyal and sincere friendship and Silvio thought it was right that there was a place for me too. But…”.

But?

“Let’s not talk about it anymore. Envy has already hit me hard.”