Roberto Maroni's coffin has arrived in the basilica of San Vittore in Varese where the state funeral has just begun.
To accompany the light wooden coffin, with a cushion of white flowers, several applauses that also continued in the church.
Behind the coffin the family.
Prime Minister
Giorgia Meloni has arrived in Varese
where the state funeral of former Interior Minister Roberto Maroni is being held in the Basilica of San Vittore.
The premier, who arrived together with the president of the Senate
Ignazio La Russa
, was greeted by applause. The two vice premiers Matteo Salvini and Antonio Tajani were also in the church.
Also present at the funeral were the Speaker of the Chamber
, Lorenzo Fontana, and various ministers.
The three Northern League governors, Massimiliano Fedriga, Attilio Fontana and Luca Zaia entered the church together.
For me, Roberto Maroni "was a friend and also very much a confidant, a person you could trust.
When there were delicate things and you wanted to confront someone, with him you were sure they wouldn't leave the room. He was that kind of person who will be missed for it".
This was stated
by the mayor of Milan, Giuseppe Sala,
arriving at the state funeral of Roberto Maroni.
"Sometimes it's much better to confront someone who isn't on your political side and doesn't necessarily agree with you - he added -. Maroni represented a style that today, even in general in politics, we no longer see, that dialogue style that it should characterize everyone. For some months I had stopped bothering him on the phone but we texted each other until last week".
Sala then also recalled the contribution given by Maroni to Milan's candidacy for the 2026 Winter Olympics. "He was very visionary. He had the ability to look far ahead in time, which will be missed. We brought the Olympics home also thanks to him - he concluded - but above all in him there is
it was an unshakeable belief that it could be done and that things could be done boldly.
He was a very brave man."
"I think Roberto Maroni was really a respectable person and also a very pleasant interlocutor.
A loyal opponent, so I think Lombardy has lost a serious person".
Thus the centre-left candidate for the presidency of the Lombardy Region
Pierfrancesco Majorino
recalled Roberto Maroni, who passed away at the age of 67 after an illness.
Letizia Moratti,
candidate for the presidency of the Lombardy Region with the Third Pole ,
also arrived at the funeral of the former Minister of the Interior and former Lombard governor .
Today in Varese the city mourning was proclaimed.
"All the political forces beyond the sides recognize two qualities in him: loyalty and correctness",
The city center, where the Basilica of San Vittore is located, is cordoned off and closed to the public for state funerals.
Citizens watch the funeral from a big screen that was set up for the occasion in Corso Matteotti, a stone's throw from the basilica.
"Thanks Bobo"
.
With this writing on a banner posted outside the historic headquarters of the Varese League, in Piazza Podestà, the party and the militants wanted to greet and thank Roberto Maroni on the day of his last farewell in his city.
In Varese today there is public mourning and flags are displayed at half-mast.