Berlusconi's legacy: 'Leadership isn't inherited,' says former associate Confalonieri

Three years after Silvio Berlusconi's death, his long-time associate Fedele Confalonieri reflects on the former Italian prime minister's "genius," particularly his ability to build winning teams. Confalonieri often cites Berlusconi's success with AC Milan, suggesting that uniting eleven players on a football pitch was more challenging than assembling eleven million voters. This comparison, he believes, illustrates what is missing in leadership today.

Confalonieri, now the sole keeper of memories from their long association, chooses silence to honor Berlusconi, stating, "I keep my Silvio for myself." He has largely withdrawn from public life, feeling he is "old" and that "he is no longer here." While he still thinks and meets with people, he feels detached from the current era, remarking, "I belong to another generation, I have nothing more to say."

However, Confalonieri remains critical of contemporary international leaders, expressing disgust at their abandonment of diplomacy. He contrasts this with Berlusconi's own diplomatic efforts, recalling how Berlusconi facilitated handshakes between leaders like George W. Bush and Vladimir Putin, and how he addressed Italians on April 25th regarding the Resistance. Confalonieri feels that even Berlusconi's opponents struggle to acknowledge his accomplishments, a sentiment Berlusconi himself often voiced privately.

“

Ancora oggi quelli che furono i suoi avversari faticano a riconoscergli quanto ha fatto.