The row over the Silvio Berlusconi Airport in Italy is entering a new chapter as Milan seeks to reverse the naming of its airport after the late scandal-ridden media mogul and prime minister.
As the backlash against the name change grows, Milan Mayor Beppe Sala said the northern city has joined an appeal brought by other municipalities seeking to reverse the decision made in Rome.
Italian media reported on Friday that the appeal could be lodged at the competent administrative court as early as next week.
Far-right Transport Minister Matteo Salvini fast-tracked the name-change and gave it final approval, despite strong opposition among Milan residents.
The centre-right Forza Italia party, which Berlusconi founded, is part of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government in Rome.
Mayor Sala, a centre-left politician, argued that the airport’s name could not be changed because of a rule that public buildings and squares may only be named after a famous person 10 years after their death.
He was not successful. Since July, Milan Malpensa Airport, which lies about 50 kilometres outside of the city, is now officially called Aeroporto Silvio Berlusconi.
Berlusconi died in June 2023 at the age of 86.
He was born in Milan in 1936. The flamboyant property developer-turned-media mogul founded his own conservative party, Forza Italia, in the 1990s and moved into politics. He was also at the helm of the AC Milan football club for many years.
Three airports serve Milan: Berlusconi, the smaller Linate Airport, and the provincial airport of Milan-Bergamo.
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