For Silvio Berlusconi two standing ovations, photos everywhere, memories and tributes from Giorgia Meloni, Ursula von der Leyen and Manfred Weber.
At the Forza Italia congress it could only be like this.
And Antonio Tajani, who inherited the leadership of the party, began his speech by evoking the knight with an ultra-proof footballing comparison, albeit not of Rossoneri inspiration: "I find myself like a footballer from Maradona's team who has to play in the final of the champions but Maradona is no longer there.
To do what Maradona did I have only one option, to ask the team and the curve for help.
We are the team, the voters are the curve, Maradona is Berlusconi". At the congress that will confirm him as secretary, Tajani circled on the map the area that the party must conquer: "We can return to being the great protagonists of Italian politics - he said - .There is a large space between Meloni and Schlein, we have the duty to occupy that space".
FI Congress Video, Tajani thanks the Berlusconi family: 'Never left alone'
The objective is to create a "home of the moderates", which is the point of reference for those who share popular values, which will already materialize at the European elections with agreements to also have representatives of civic experiences on the Forza Italia lists.
Tajani has focused heavily on the party's European projection.
Which marked the agenda of the congress with the video message from the President of the EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen: "Under the leadership of Tajani - you said - Fi will remain an anchor of Italy to Europe".
FI Congress Video, Schifani: 'Today renamed Tajani great leader'
And the intervention of EPP president Manfred Weber: "The populists say they love their nations but they are Putin's puppets."
But the first guest to appear - on video - was the prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, who lives elsewhere in Europe: "Even if we belong to different families - she said - the objectives are common, we have demonstrated how even a composite majority can make a difference, we can bring the Italian model to Europe too."
And then, on the fibrillations of the coalition: "We are governing with great compactness. The center-right is not an accident of history. We are together by choice, our visions are common."
In the front rows of the room was the president of the Senate, Ignazio la Russa.
For Fdi there were also group leaders Lucio Malan and Tommaso Foti.
FI Congress Video, Tajani: 'Great future, another thirty years of history'
While in the chatter in the corridors there were those who noticed that there was only one deputy for the League, Simonetta Matone.
And even a joke from the Italian president of Calabria, Roberto Occhiuto, revealed a bit of coldness: "I see that there is a lot of enthusiasm, perhaps more in our country than in the places where the League meets".
Paolo Berlusconi was also in the room, while the knight's partner, Marta Fascina, was not seen.
"I want to thank the Berlusconi family - said Tajani - they never lacked support, they never left Fi alone, they never left Silvio Berlusconi's project alone. Fi was perhaps one of his most brilliant creatures, and the Berlusconi family wants to see that creature grow."
The congress will confirm Tajani as secretary.
With him a team of deputies: Roberto Occhiuto, Deborah Bergamini, Stefano Benigni and Alberto Cirio.
FI Congress Video, Pichetto Fratin: 'With Tajani we continue Berlusconi's path'
After almost an hour and a half of surgery, Tajani stopped for a moment.
To take a breath.
It wasn't tiredness.
He was a magician.
He was saying: "If tomorrow you will give me your trust, I ask you with great friendship, because this is my big family...", but he was unable to go any further.
Applause.
Then again with the program points.
Picking flowers from flowers: never an estate, never taxes on the house, five years of high school are too many, away from the State from MPS, separation of careers, fight against discrimination based on sexual orientation... And a message to the opposition: "Do not there is no crisis in the centre-right, I say this to all our political opponents: we will continue until the end of the legislature".
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