Milan Airport in Italy Renamed as 'Berlusconi International Airport'

Italy's Milan Malpensa International Airport will be renamed 'Silvio Berlusconi International Airport.' Berlusconi was a figure who served as Italy's prime minister three times and passed away last June.

Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi [Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 8th (local time), according to ANSA and other sources, the Italian Civil Aviation Authority (ENAC) recently approved the renaming proposal for Lombardy, with Milan as its capital.

Malpensa International Airport, the gateway to northern Italy, is located about 49 km northwest of Milan, Berlusconi's hometown. Matteo Salvini, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, supported the aviation authority's decision.

On the 6th, Deputy Prime Minister Salvini posted on X (formerly Twitter) a message saying, "To honor my friend Silvio, a great businessman, a great Milanese citizen, and a great Italian," along with photos of Berlusconi and Malpensa International Airport.

However, compared to other airports named after historical figures such as Leonardo da Vinci (Rome), Caravaggio (Bergamo), Marco Polo (Venice), Amerigo Vespucci (Florence), and Galileo Galilei (Pisa), there is debate over whether former Prime Minister Berlusconi has the achievements and qualifications to warrant such an honor.

Pierfrancesco Majorino, a former Member of the European Parliament from the main opposition party, the Democratic Party (PD), criticized, "Former Prime Minister Berlusconi was a divisive figure, and many residents of Lombardy and many Italians have not clearly defined him." On the other hand, Maurizio Gasparri, a senator from Forza Italia (FI), the party founded by Berlusconi, said, "Berlusconi is a true giant. His greatness is recorded in history."

Born in Milan in 1936, former Prime Minister Berlusconi transformed from Italy's richest man to a politician, serving as prime minister three times from 1994 to 2011 (four times if including the cabinet reshuffle in 2005), totaling 9 years and 2 months. However, during his tenure, various allegations including numerous sex scandals, corruption, and mafia connections persisted, earning him the notorious nickname of a 'scandal factory.'