«Marina Berlusconi is a real resource for Forza Italia, because she is very similar to her father». This was said by Roberto Occhiuto, president of the Calabria Region and national deputy secretary of Forza Italia, speaking on “Ping pong”, on Rai Radio 1. Responding to a question on relations with the Berlusconi family, Occhiuto specified that he does not have frequent comparisons with Marina: «I have often said that I am one of those who interact less with the Berlusconi family. Do you think that I only heard from Pier Silvio Berlusconi once and only on the phone.” The governor also clarified that his positions do not derive from those talks: «Nor do I say what I say because it arises from the comparison with Marina Berlusconi».
The reference to the founder’s method
Occhiuto, former group leader of Forza Italia before becoming president of the Region, explained that he finds some traits of his father in Marina Berlusconi: «In some attitudes, even in some reflections, in the sensitivity he demonstrates towards some problems, he seems very, very similar to his father».
For the national deputy secretary, Marina therefore represents a resource because «in some way it allows Forza Italia to remain anchored to the method of its founder». A method to be translated into daily political activity, according to Occhiuto: «We manage to make Forza Italia a great liberal party only if we anchor that method to daily action, not only by talking about Berlusconi or the Berlusconi family, but indeed by trying to make current the method that Berlusconi inserted into Italian politics when he founded Forza Italia».