The family of the late Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was not consulted regarding the decision to rename Milan's main airport in his honor, and acknowledges that the timing was inappropriate, according to his eldest son. Milan's Malpensa Airport, the second busiest passenger airport in Italy, was officially renamed after the center-right politician earlier this month, just over a year since his passing. The decision was approved by Transport Minister Matteo Salvini, leader of the far-right League party. Pier Silvio Berlusconi expressed that the family appreciates any honors for his father but was not involved in the decision-making process.
"To be frank, the approach was not ideal, both in terms of timing and execution. It was clear that it would stir controversy," he stated to journalists at the headquarters of MFE-MediaforEurope, the media company founded by his father. "As a family, we were not part of the process and were informed at the last moment," he continued. Milan's center-left Mayor Beppe Sala spearheaded widespread criticism of the renaming, with opponents initiating a petition to reverse the decision.
"I was irritated by the controversy, and even more so by those who used it for political gain," Berlusconi remarked, referring to Sala. In Italy, there is typically a ten-year waiting period after someone's death before a public place can be named after them, a rule that was overlooked in this instance. Italy's other major airports are named after notable historical figures, such as Rome's Leonardo da Vinci airport and Venice's Marco Polo airport. Palermo airport honors two prosecutors assassinated by the mafia in 1992 — Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino.
The Berlusconi family is the primary financial supporter of the Forza Italia party, established by Silvio Berlusconi, which is part of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's ruling coalition. Pier Silvio Berlusconi denied media speculation that he intends to follow in his father's footsteps and pursue a political career.
