Italian Politicians Pay Tribute to Former President Giorgio Napolitano

Storyful
7 個月前

Former Italian prime minister Paolo Gentiloni was among a group of politicians who commemorated former president Giorgio Napolitano at his funeral on Tuesday, September 26, in Rome.

Napolitano died on September 22, at the age of 98. He was Italian president from 2006 to 2015, and was the first politician to be reelected to the office since its creation in 1948.

Napolitano appointed technocrat Mario Draghi as Italy’s prime minister after Silvio Berlusconi’s resignation in 2011, in a move that is credited with helping his country’s economy during the eurozone crisis.

It is the first time a funeral has been held at Montecitorio Palace, the seat of the lower house of parliament in Rome.

Gentiloni, who is currently the European Commissioner for Economic Affairs, remembered Napolitano as a great statesman and as an “extraordinary pro-European.”

Gentiloni said that Napolitano was remembered fondly by those working in European institutions as someone who would be an example to younger colleagues. “He was open to everything and everyone,” Gentiloni said.

“For him, Europe had always been the guiding path. Dear Giorgio, we’ll always try to follow your path,” Gentiloni said. Credit: Camera dei Deputati via Storyful