Former minister compares Salvador Allende to Silvio Berlusconi: it’s chaos
The controversy continues to rage following the decision to name Malpensa Airport after Silvio Berlusconi. And, as was to be expected, the debate rages on between those who see it as a grand gesture and those who consider it utter nonsense. Adding fuel to the fire, among others, was League member Gian Marco Centinaio, Vice President of the Senate and former Minister of Agricultural, Food, Forestry, and Tourism Policies.
“In Italy, you’ve been having fun for years: Via Tito, Via Stalin, Via Allende, Via Ho Chi Minh, Via Mao Zedong…. and you complain if Malpensa Airport is named after Silvio Berlusconi????? As he used to say, it’s just those POOR COMMUNISTS!” wrote the Matteo Salvini supporter, accompanying the text with images of street signs dedicated to left-wing politicians.
These words garnered both support and criticism, the latter particularly due to the decision to include Salvador Allende—Chile’s democratically elected president who died in a coup in 1973—in the list. Centinaio’s remarks sparked a veritable uproar on the Pavia politician’s page, with some agreeing with him and others disagreeing.
In 2018, Berlusconi acquired Monza, then in Serie C. Under his ownership, the club earned promotion to Serie B and, in 2022, its first-ever promotion to Serie A, subsequently securing early survival in its debut season in the top flight.
