Why Pier Silvio Berlusconi dumped Tajani

If this isn't an eviction notice for Antonio Tajani , it's very close. If it's not an announcement of his imminent entry into the political arena, it's very close. Piersilvio Berlusconi was supposed to present Mediaset's new schedule at a press conference, and he did so with a combative tone, even announcing between the lines the return of Andrea Giambruno, Giorgia's ex: "He's a good journalist." But at the traditional annual press conference in Cologno Monzese, television inevitably took a back seat.

The Mediaset CEO was clearly much more eager to talk about something else. About politics. The deputy prime minister's crusade on Ius Scholae was mercilessly sunk: "I'm in favor of the principle, but I don't consider it a priority. I'm more against it than for it because it's not the right time: it doesn't seem like one of the country's five priorities." A capital sentence. The heir is also keen to emphasize that he and his sister Marina have nothing to do with that proposal: " It's absolutely false that Tajani is pushing forward that proposal following Marina's idealistic guidelines." Although, of course, as our father taught us, "rights must always be defended, regardless." At the right time, however, clearly. Salvini, more than satisfied, takes it in stride, applauds, and quips: " Game over, issue closed. The left will deal with it in thirty years. If they win." The targeted man tries, but fails, to hide his embarrassment: "We're in perfect harmony. Ius Scholae isn't a priority for me either." So, what's he talking about every single day for?

The blue leader feels his seat wobble. The majority shareholder of the party he leads pretends to praise him but in reality stabs him: "Tajani is excellent; if he didn't exist, we'd have to invent him. But that doesn't mean we can't do better. It's time for new thinking, in terms of openness and a vision of the future, which doesn't necessarily mean younger people ." Indeed, a 56-year-old man like him can hardly be described as young. But it's hard not to think he sees himself as perfectly suited to the mission of making the party founded by Popes "a liberal and moderate force that looks to the center-right but with a progressive thrust." He neither confirms nor denies: " Today I don't think about politics, but looking to the future, I don't rule out the possibility of one day saying: there's a completely new challenge, why not?" It's just one possibility among many, and in any case a remote one. But Berlusconi junior has stuck his foot in the water, and a couple of sentences lead us to suspect that the idea is more recurrent than the subject is willing to admit.

Remember that while he is 56, his father entered politics at 58. He confesses that he is often "assaulted" by people who admire him, " and I tend to equate this passion that overwhelms me with politics ." And when he states that his father, if alive , "would have gone wild, would have done anything, even bordering on excessiveness, to try to stop the wars in Ukraine and Gaza," it is impossible not to read this as a sharp criticism aimed first of all at the Foreign Minister, Tajani, but then also at the Prime Minister. Piersilvio is actually trying to reassure Giorgia. He hails her government as "one of the best in Europe." He says he is convinced that the Prime Minister " is doing her best and her best ." But there is little to reassure. The difference between him and the current leader lies in the fact that Tajani can aspire to make FI a protagonist again, even competitive with FdI , without thereby threatening the leader's position. He has always successfully tried to clarify that even his obvious ambitions do not pose a threat since his rights policy is not aimed at the FdI electorate but at the centrist, even left-leaning, electorate.

Berlusconi is a different matter. The Cavaliere's son can't enter the fray for less than the premiership. If he ever takes the plunge, a challenge with Giorgia will be immediate and inevitable. This could be a problem for Mediaset's top brass. The company needs to be as in tune as possible with the government, and precisely for this reason, whenever rumors of dissension between the Cavaliere's family and his coalition have surfaced, Marina has been quick to dispel them with declarations of absolute solidarity with the president. So if Piersilvio really wants to try, he'll first have to convince the company's top brass, who have always been very cautious on this matter, and perhaps even his sister.

FROM

David Romoli