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" and PD Milan Mayor
Gisueppe Sala said "for me he was above all a friend".
Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, of the League's longtime ally
Forza Italia (FI), said "he was a protagonist of Italian
politics" while the League's Veneto Governor Luca Zaia said "we
have lost an iconic figure of the League, a true friend".
Premier Giorgia Meloni, a key ally of the League, said "he
served the institutions with common sense and concreteness"
while President Sergio Mattarella was among the many to send
their condolences.
The League's current leader Matteo Salvini, who took over from
Maroni and turned the party into a national force, said "he was
always and will be a Leaguer for ever and ever".
His family said "you were an incurable optimist".
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