A row has erupted over the Italian
Civil Aviation Authority ENAC's decision to name Milan's
Malpensa Airport after Silvio Berlusconi, the flamboyant,
charismatic and divisive three time ex premier and media mogul
who died in June last year aged 86.
MIlan's centre left Mayor Beppe Sala accused ENAC of giving in
to pressure from conservative circles including rightwing League
Transport Minister Matteo Salvini and going ahead without
consulting SEA, the company that runs Milan's airports, the
other being Linate.
Marco Grimaldi, an MP for the Green/Left Alliance, said "Who
knows if minister Salvini knows that Rome's Fiumicino Airport is
named after Leonardo da Vinci, Venice's after Marco Polo, and
Genoa's after Christopher Columbus.
"And then Sandro Pertini for Turin airport, Catullus for Verona,
Marconi for Bologna, Galileo for Pisa and last but not least
Falcone and Borsellino for Palermo.
"For Malpensa Aiport there are very many illustrious Milanese
men and women who would not cut a shabby figure from Alessandro
Manzoni to Giuseppe Verdi, from Cesare Beccaria, to Carla
Fracci, from Alda Merini to Gae Aulenti".
Grimaldi said "I for one would be ashamed to take a flight from
Falcone and Borsellino Airport and land at Silvio Berlusconi
Airport".
Berlusconi, reckoned a political and business giant and
statesman by his admirers, was linked by detractors to bunga
bunga parties, gaffes and mafia rumours that never led to
charges, though his former right hand man is serving time for
helping the Mob.
"After the state funeral, national mourning, and the postage
stamp, enough is enough," said Grimaldi.
"I hope there is an upsurge of dignity".
Salvini has said his ministry would give the final ok to name
Malpensa after Berlusconi.
A Senator in Berlusconi's centre right Forza Italia party, Licia
Ronzulli, said "it will be an homage to the statesman, the
businessman, the extraordinary man...the greatest recognition
for someone who made the history of the country and the city".
She said "only those who are blinded by bad faith and still
today is not capable of respecting the memory of president
Berlusconi can contest this choice".
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