Attack on Silvio Berlusconi
Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi has spent the night in a hospital after being attacked at a rally in Milan Sunday. His spokesman reports he is tired and aching, and doctors are advising that he rest
e was admitted to hospital on Sunday with broken teeth, a fractured nose and a scarred face after a man with a history of mental problems threw a statuette of Milan cathedral at him as he signed autographs after a political rally.
A medical bulletin said on Monday there were no big worries about Berlusconi’s condition but he would stay in hospital at least until Tuesday because he was complaining about sharp pains in the head and face and had lost about a liter of blood.
His doctor, Alberto Zangrillo, said on state television Berlusconi would not return to work for 10 days.
Some commentators said the attack would help Berlusconi, whose high ratings have been hit by accusations of corruption and sex scandals. They said a “sympathy factor” was likely to boost his popularity, and that the attack would strengthen his position in his sometimes fractious center-right coalition.
“I expect his ratings to go up in the eyes of public opinion and this will also make it harder for anyone in the center-right to aspire to take his place anytime soon,” leading national political commentator Massimo Franco told Reuters.
Images of Berlusconi’s bloodied and bruised face were shown on television around the world and on the front pages of all Italian newspapers, but the headlines and comments went well beyond the injuries.
“A Time of Hatred” was the headline used by La Nazione newspaper of Florence. The word “hate” was used in many headlines and commentators as Italy searched its soul over what happened to its controversial and divisive premier.
