MILAN, May 6 (Reuters) – Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi sent a video message to the Forza Italia party on Saturday, in his first appearance since he was hospitalized a month ago, saying he is ready to return to work.
Berlusconi, 86, dressed in a blue shirt and suit and heavily made up, was shown seated at a desk with the Italian and European flags behind him along with a Forza Italia banner.
“I have never stopped, not even in the last few weeks. I have worked on the new party structure and I am ready to work with you again and wage our struggles for freedom,” said the businessman.
Berlusconi recorded the message from his hospital room after doctors and relatives prevented his release for fear that he would try to attend a two-day convention of his party in Milan in person, according to the daily La Repubblica.
The four-time prime minister was hospitalized on April 5 and spent nearly two weeks in intensive care, sparking speculation that his life was in danger.
Berlusconi, treated for a lung infection linked to chronic leukemia, was released from intensive care on April 16 and his condition has continued to improve, according to his doctors.
“In recent weeks I have felt the affection (…) of so many people, including my political opponents, and I obviously thank them. It has been their affection (…) that has helped me overcome a really dangerous pneumonia “, said.
For about 20 minutes, Berlusconi recounted his decision to leave the executive functions of his business empire 30 years ago to go into politics “to save Italy from communism.”
“We are the essential and loyal pillar of this majority, we are the backbone of this government,” he said, referring to the right-wing administration of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. (Reporting by Valentina Za. Edited in Spanish by Javier Leira)
Source: Ambito
