That the centre-left did not look favorably on the idea of naming the Brianteo Stadium after Silvio Berlusconi it had already been clear for some time, but perhaps not everyone expected that the exponents of Pilotto’s coalition would ask to postpone the discussion. Yet last night, in the city council in Monza, the majority proposed a point of order to postpone the discussion on the controversial title “to avoid exploitation in view of the European elections”. A decision to which the centre-right also agreed, but for entirely different reasons (which can be read here).
Stadium in Berlusconi, Sassoli’s motion
The proposal to name the Brianteo Stadium after Berlusconi was made by the municipal councilor of the Mixed Group (as well as a regional councilor in the Moratti List) Martina Sassoli who had proposed to the municipal council to approve a resolution requesting the Prefect to name the municipal stadium after the “president and first supporter of AC Monza”.
So Sassoli:
In addition to the numerous successes achieved during his entrepreneurial, political and sporting career, the name of Silvio Berlusconi will forever remain anchored to our city, because under his leadership AC Monza achieved the historic record of reaching the top Italian football league and to guarantee their stay also in the following season six days in advance.
The request was presented to the City Council on 12 June 2023, through a motion, the very day Berlusconi passed away at the age of 86. However, since the former prime minister and patron of Monza Calcio did not die more than ten years ago, only the Prefect can authorize the naming of squares or buildings.
From silence to the ni of the Democratic Party
The first reaction of the Pilotto council at the time was silence. No one had commented on the request, which had thus ended up “in oblivion”.
A few days ago, as the discussion of the motion in the City Council approached (scheduled for yesterday, Monday 6 May 2024), the deputy mayor was Egidio Longoni (among other things a fan of Monza Calcio) to express his doubts in this regard, as a guest on Monza News.
Longoni had not been trenchant in front of the microphones (as he was rumored to have been in private in the control room), but he had made it clear that the majority had more than one doubt in this regard.
Thus Longoni:
We have not yet addressed the topic, the point will be to reflect on ideological barriers, because the entrepreneur who invested in Monza is one thing and for this I thank him, the divisive political figure is another. The issue is delicate, I don’t vote and I refrain from giving my opinion. I leave it to the Council to decide.
The discussion postponed
Council which, however, in the end has not yet expressed itself. Last night he was the leader of the civic list MonzAttiva Sergio Visconti the task of presenting a point of order on behalf of the majority to ask for the discussion of Sassoli’s motion to be postponed until after the European elections. The motivation? Avoid exploitation.
A decision also shared by the centre-right, which voted in favour, effectively isolating Sassoli, but which was not liked even by Paolo Piffer of Civicamente Monza, who commented: “The fact that we are proceeding with a motion of this kind, which is not foreseen by any regulation because there is no violation of the level playing field worries me and not a little because it opens a serious precedent”.
Sassoli was also very harsh: “It’s serious to create such a precedent. It doesn’t surprise me given that an unelected deputy mayor, but a member of the Democratic Party, had already expressed the sentiment of the majority with his opposition”.
In the end the vote had a favorable outcome (with 19 yes votes), so the discussion of the motion was postponed, but both the Centre-Left and the Centre-Right were divided internally. In short, Berlusconi, even from beyond the grave, continues to spark discussion.
The break with Lab Monza
Lab Monza, like some members of the Democratic Party, voted against the postponement. “The reason for this vote differs widely from that expressed by councilor Sassoli, who made it a complicated political question supported by imaginative and sometimes conspiracy-like designs. The reasons that would have pushed us to vote against – declares councilor Spedo – are very simple : we were ready to reject already today the motion that requests the Prefect to derogate from the legislation for the naming of property after the deceased. This derogation is possible but using it in this way would be an incorrect interpretation of the law and we remain opposed to the naming. of any property to Silvio Berlusconi, including streets, parks, buildings, museums and public goods”.
According to Lab Monza, giving the stadium its name would be harmful to education. “The goals that Monza Calcio achieved are undeniable, but Berlusconi was much more. In his life he stood out for positions, choices and wicked actions, which earned him convictions and acquittals by statute of limitations”, added the Lab advisors Monza.
“Too many times – commented Francesco Racioppi – the national center-left has been intimidated by the figure of Silvio Berlusconi. We, however, were ready to express our position clearly and clearly.”
