«The M5S is at its antipodes. I am absent in the Cathedral out of respect»- Corriere.it

“Some free reconstructions made on my choice not to go to Berlusconi’s funeral” are “an absurdity”. This was declared by the president of the M5S Giuseppe Conte after the controversy first for the post considered too “do-good” by the Grillino people after the death of Silvio Berlusconi, then for the choice not to attend the funeral, criticized for having seemed a botched patch against of an electorate that had always based its existence on the strong opposition to Berlusconi. Thus Conte, in a note, explained today that «yesterday I remained silent because I considered it inappropriate any political controversy while the funeral was being celebrated. The respect for death and for the pain that family members and people who loved Silvio Berlusconi feel are sacred and the 5 Star Movement has demonstrated this clearly expressing my sincere condolences towards those who feel the painful emptiness of this loss». Conte continued: “In the same way, however, I consider it a form of respect for both the pain of people close to Berlusconi and for the history and values ​​that I share intimately with my political community, the Movimento 5 Stelle, not having attended the funeral : these are two very stories distant and, in many ways, poles apart».

For Conte «there is another consideration to underline. A moment after the death, a synchronous and complex mechanism was triggered, which saw the government proclaim national mourning, Parliament stop classroom activities, public and private televisions chasing each other in hagiographic reconstructions, in short, a celebratory paroxysm that in these hours is also prompting many foreign observers to wonder about our democratic “styles and customs”. I think that “respect” means keeping sober, frank in saying things as they are and, above all, consistent with one’s history”.

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