Roberto Maroni, the state funeral in the Basilica of San Vittore in Varese

Roberto Maroni's coffin, a light wooden coffin covered with white flowers, was accompanied to the applause of the citizens inside the basilica of San Vittore in Varese.

At

former minister and former president of the Lombardy Region, the general staff of the League, with the secretary Matteo Salvini, the premier Giorgia Meloni and the representatives of the government.

Also present was Ignazio La Russa, president of the Senate.

The banners of various Municipalities and Regions are lined up in the square.

Roberto Maroni's wife, children, sister and close relatives accompanied the body into the church.

The city centre, where the

is located, was cordoned off and closed to the public for the state funeral.

A maxi screen was set up to allow citizens to participate in the funeral.

"He was a politician capable of passion and moderation, of determination without aggressiveness, of being partisan and taking care of the whole, of proposing himself and stepping aside".

This is a passage from the message of

, read by Monsignor Vegezzi during his funeral.

"We felt great closeness and great love and affection. Dads, we know that being a dad hasn't been easy for you because your job, which was your passion, forced you to spend time away from home, often you weren't at home, we turned on the TV and saw you there, but we were never angry with you, perhaps in our adolescence, but it didn't last long because then it was always a great joy to see you come home, you were an introvert, a shy guy, despite the rallies, the hosted ones, the summits with the great powerful of the globe, it was difficult to get your emotions out, to those who asked you how you were you preferred to say 'fine'".

This is

, who thanked everyone on behalf of the family at the end of the funeral in the basilica of San Vittore in Varese.

"However, I knew that you loved us infinitely - continued Filippo Maroni - you showed it with your sudden big hugs, always ready to fulfill our every request, daddy find me a ticket to San Siro, obviously from Milan. Then in times of difficulty you have understood that the family could be a safe haven, you understood that there are more important things than politics with a small p. Even when you couldn't get out of bed anymore just to not give us a pity. You worked so hard to be a good dad and we know it well because your love has reached us all, have a good journey dad". 

Roberto Maroni "was a person capable of great vision and great pragmatism. He was one of the people I met who was most capable of playing as a team. I have an extraordinary memory of him. Italy was lucky to be able to count on such a person in the its institutions" said

, visibly moved, as she left the funeral.