Many of Italy’s elite turn out for ex-Premier Silvio Berlusconi’s state funeral in Milan

By COLLEEN BARRY
Associated Press

MILAN (AP) — Italy’s political, business and soccer elite bade farewell to former Premier Silvio Berlusconi with a state funeral inside Milan’s imposing Duomo cathedral. Thousands of ordinary admirers and soccer fans Wednesday waved banners and chanted in the piazza outside. It was a fitting send-off for a man who made billions as a media mogul, upended the Italian political system as three-time premier and championed two winning soccer clubs. But even as Italians overwhelmingly agree that Berlusconi has left the greatest mark on Italy over four decades of business and politics, not all think it was for the best.