Former interior minister Roberto
Maroni died on Tuesday at the age of 67, his family said.
The politician, who also served as Lombardy governor and leader
of the Northern League party, had been fighting serious illness
for some time.
A pragmatic politician who moderated the line of the formerly
radically secessionist Northern League, today the nationalist
League, Maroni was widely respected across the political
spectrum.
This was reflected by the tributes which flowed in on Tuesday.
Centre-left Democratic Party (PD) outgoing leader and ex-premier
Enrico Letta said "I have so many memories, he will be sorely
missed by us all" while the current favourite to replace Letta,
Emilia-Romagna Governor Stefano Bonaccini said "he was a
thoroughly decent person and a passionate politician" while
ex-premier and populist 5-Star Movement (M5S) leader Giuseppe
Conte said "we are losing an absolute protagonist of the
political life of the last 30 years".
Former PD leader Piero Fassino said "he was a brave and fair
adversary" while another former PD leader and ex-premier,
European Economic Affairs Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni, said "I
remember a competent minister and a fair man".
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