The embattled Italian Prime Minister reportedly confided to Paolo Bonaiuti, his spokesman, on the way to Milan’s cathedral square that he feared “something might happen” because of the “climate of hate” against him.
His attacker has admitted to police that he “hates” the embattled Italian leader. Asked if he wished Mr Berlusconi ill, Massimo Tartaglia replied “I hate him”, according to Italian reports. Mr Tartaglia, a 42-year-old electronics engineer with a history of mental illness, has no known political affiliations…
Splits have however appeared in the centre Left in the aftermath of the attack. Pier Luigi Bersani, leader of the opposition Democratic Party, visited Mr Berlusconi in hospital today and condemned the attack “without ifs or buts”. Asked how Mr Berlusconi was he replied “fairly well”.
He distanced himself from Antonio Di Pietro, the leader of the smaller centre Left Italy of Values party, who said he also condemned violence but added that Mr Berluscoini had himself “instigated” the attack through his violent rhetoric. Mr Di Pietro said he would not visit the Prime Minister in hospital “because I am not a hypocrite”.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member