“After 28 years in which we have rewritten the political history of Italy and of a center-right that would never have existed without us, this represents for us a new descent into the field. We are aware that all this is indispensable and irreplaceable for the future of ‘Italy”. To say it was Silvio Berlusconi opening his almost 40-minute speech at the Forza Italia convention in Rome. A return in presence, by the Knight, after 31 months of absence due to the pandemic and his health conditions. Welcomed by the waving flags of Forza Italia and the hymn “Thank goodness Silvio exists”, Berlusconi in his speech condemned, after weeks of silence, Vladimir Putin and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. “I am disappointed and saddened by Putin’s decisions – he said – war crimes have been committed in Bucha and Russia cannot deny it. We must put an end to the brutality of the war and Italy must work to reach a compromise acceptable to all. “. And he added: “Ukraine’s freedom must be guaranteed”.
Il Cavaliere then cited a great classic of his political season, “the judicial persecutions” which, however, he clarified “have not defeated us. The party numbers do not satisfy us, but they are on the rise and we are here more determined than ever”. But where here? “In the center-right, which does not exist without Forza Italia”, said the blue leader.
War in Ukraine
Speaking of the war, Berlusconi said: “I have not been able to give Europe a single foreign policy of common defense and today we are facing an unprecedented aggression against a country that is fighting for its freedom”. Then, hoping for the end of the conflict, he clarified: “We hope that relations between Russia, the United States and Europe will once again be in dialogue. But it is now up to Russia to take a step in the right direction, silencing the weapons. fire by Russia is fundamental and a priority “.
Berlusconi’s return to the stage: with choirs, jokes, old warhorses and standing ovations
The rincari
Speaking of the economic and energy crisis caused by the sanctions against Russia, Berlusconi blamed the current problems on the “ideological choices that led to the renunciation of nuclear power, which led to the reduction of production and national research which led to the blockade of regasification plants. For this reason – he said – we are unable to give up, at least immediately, the supplies of Russian gas, even if this must be our goal in the right time “. Now, he stressed, “we must avoid a new recession” also due to the increase in the prices of raw materials. “The measures taken by the government go in the right direction, but there is still a lot to do to save our future. Only a credible government in Europe can ask the ECB to continue placing government bonds on the market. We have confidence – he concluded – in the ability of our government to work for the future, but the government cannot help but consider the political forces and the need for a normal parliamentary dialectic “.
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Taxes and tax reform
But precisely speaking of the relationship with Draghi’s majority and executive, the Forza Italia leader clarified: “We will never allow any government, as we have never allowed it, to put its hands in the pockets of the Italians. no government to strike the house, which is sacred to us, is the symbol of the unity and continuity of the family “. And he continued: “We will never allow any government to hit savings, which are the fruit of a life of work, sacrifices and hopes. Not to penalize the real estate sector is an economic but also a moral, social and civil”.
Berlusconi: “Loyal to the government until the end, but we will not allow them to hit home and savings”
The relationship with the allies
Berlusconi, who skipped some parts of his speech because it was “too long”, underlined how “the relationship with the allies” did not fail even when “Brothers of Italy lost the opportunity, entering the government, to participate of the relaunching of the country with its ideas, with its programs, with its women and men “. And he observed: “We are different from our friends and allies, to whom we are bound by a relationship of loyalty, esteem, sharing that we experience every day in governing together many regions and many municipalities”.