A collection of 650 of the 50,000 messages of goodwill that Silvio Berlusconi received immediately after he was physically attacked on December 13th last year has been published by the Premier’s own publishing house, Mondadori.
The title, L’amore vince sempre sull’invidia e sull’odio [“Love always triumphs over envy and hatred”] is a quote from the message of thanks that Mr Berlusconi sent to his well-wishers from hospital on December 15th. Mr Berlusconi himself has written the introduction to the book and says that the messages are “the public testimony of the Italy that knows how to love”.
Here are translations of some of the messages:
From a 15-year-old: “I’d like to have you as a friend and a father….. Drink plenty and take two vitamin pills.”
“I’m 64 and I’ve always believed in Berlusconi. I’m an old woman ready to go out and demonstrate. I’m tired of Italy rambling on and driving up a one-way street, as if we – the majority – were a pack of lunatics! ENOUGH.”
“Silvio, clone yourself!”
“Great Silvio, even with kryptonite they couldn’t knock you down!”
“Great Silvio, don’t let them intimidate you. You have done so much for us here in L’Aquila and even more for the nation.”
“I’m writing this with my Dad who doesn’t know how to use the computer… Forget the hatred and remember the love of so many. This message is the true meaning of Christmas, which is coming. You are strong, Prime Minister.”
Purchasers of the book, which costs 15 euros [£13.56 or $20.65] will also be able to read the text of “Discesa in campo” [“Entering the Field”] in which Mr Berlusconi stated his reasons for entering politics in 1994, extracts from his speech at the founding congress of the Pdl and “Il governo del fare” [The Government of Action”] a summary of the government’s achievements from May 2008 – January 2010.
The book is in bookstores ahead of regional elections on March 28th and 29th. Its title is also the name given to the pro-Berlusconi demonstration planned for this Saturday in Rome.
Would you buy this book?
