George Harris
Jun 23, 2023 - 02:00

Lombardy Pushes to Rename Milan's Malpensa Airport in Honor of Silvio Berlusconi

Lombardy proposes renaming Milan's Malpensa Airport after Silvio Berlusconi.

The parliament of the Lombardy region in Italy has put forth a proposal to officially rename Milan's Malpensa Airport after the late Silvio Berlusconi. The motion was introduced by the councillors of the regional party Lombardia Migliore and requires the government to approach the Italian Ministry of Transport, which holds the authority to evaluate and make the final decision.

Lombardy, the region where Milan is situated, is widely recognized as the hometown of Berlusconi, the former prime minister and influential politician who recently passed away on June 12 after battling leukaemia. Milan holds significant importance in Berlusconi's legacy, as it served as the backdrop for many of his business ventures and achievements. It was also the city where he rose to national prominence, despite not holding any local or regional political positions.

Silvio Berlusconi holds the distinction of being the longest-serving prime minister in post-World War II Italy. However, his tenure in power was marked by numerous controversies and scandals, including allegations of involvement with an underage prostitute during a house party.

In Lombardy, however, Berlusconi enjoyed considerable popularity and remained well-liked until his death. The idea of renaming the airport in his honor originated from Roberto Formigoni, the former president of the region. Formigoni asserted that the airport's modern development owes much to Berlusconi, as well as to himself, as reported by MiTomorrow.

Malpensa Airport, currently the second busiest in Italy after Rome's Fiumicino, is not the only airport serving Milan. Linate airport primarily caters to domestic flights.

Interestingly, the Ministry of Transport, led by Matteo Salvini, expressed interest in the proposal. However, the ministry initially leaned towards renaming Linate Airport after Berlusconi. Ultimately, the decision rests with the Ministry of Transport, which will determine the course of action.