Mr Berlusconi is expected to leave hospital today, after being kept in for a night longer than was expected following Sunday’s attack. The Premier had complained of headaches and neck pains. A former neck injury is reported to be causing some of his discomfort. His personal physician has ordered him to rest at least until the end of December and all engagements scheduled during this period have been cancelled. These include a visit to L’Aquila planned for Christmas Eve and the Premier’s end-of-year press conference.
President Obama’s Tuesday night phone call to the Premier is thought to have cheered him up, as have the good wishes he has received from the public. As one would expect, Mr Berlusconi has said a definite “No” to the idea of an early election.
Meanwhile, a judge has ruled that Mr Berlusconi’s assailant, Massimo Tartaglia, cannot be transferred from prison to a psychiatric hospital.
The Italian government has expressed its concerns about “fan” pages for Mr Tartaglia to facebook. The social network is monitoring these carefully.
Security concerns were expressed yesterday after a 26-year-old man from Turin attempted to reach Mr Berlusconi’s room. He claimed that he wanted to talk to the Premier. He was unarmed but hockey sticks and rusty knives were found in his car. Later it was announced that security measures at the hospital were working as the man had been stopped at the first checkpoint.
In an incident that may or may not be related to the attack on the Premier, a partially exploded bomb set to go off at 3 am on Wednesday morning was intercepted at Milan’s Bocconi University. Had it detonated completely, the bomb would have caused extensive damage. An anarchist group calling itself “The Sisters of Freedom” has claimed responsibility. Some commentators think the incident may be part of a campaign to destabilise Italy.
The Bocconi is one of Italy’s most prestigious private universities.
