Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister
Antonio Tajani was elected Forza Italia (FI) secretary by the
centre-right party's national council in Rome on Saturday.
It is the first time FI's national council has met since
ex-premier and party founder Silvio Berlusconi died last month.
Former European Parliament president Tajani will hold the
position on a 'pro tempore' basis until the party's next
congress.
He was voted in unanimously by a show of hands.
FI Senate whip Licia Ronzulli said the party had decided to
change its statute so the role of party president, which was
Berlusconi's, no longer exists.
"There's only one president for us," Ronzulli said.
Tajani pledged that he would work to make Berlusconi's vision
became a reality after being elected the party's caretaker
leader.
"It is not easy to lead a political movement that has had Silvio
Berlusconi as its leader for almost 30 years," said Tajani, who
had been the party's national coordinator.
"I can only guarantee my commitment, determination and will to
turn all his dreams into reality.
"To do this I will need all of you, all our politicians, our
elected representatives, our sympathisers and our activists.
"Leading Forza Italia is a very complicated undertaking because
there will never be anyone like him.
"But now, all together, we must honour what he did and not waste
the legacy he has left us.
"It is like a great inheritance that we have.
"Woe betide the children that waste the inheritance from their
father."
"It is not a question of powers. We are all fighting together"
he added.
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