Rome [Italy], September 27: Italy bid farewell to former president Giorgio Napolitano with a state funeral on Tuesday.
The service at the lower house of parliament in Rome was attended by leading politicians from Italy and abroad including current President Sergio Mattarella, Prime Minister GiorgiaMeloni, her ministers and French President Emmanuel Macron.
Napolitano's 88-year-old widow Clio received the guests in a wheelchair in front of her husband's coffin at the Palazzo Montecitorio.
Napolitano, who held office for a record eight and a half years between 2006 and 2015, died last Friday at 98.
The funeral service for the former communist was a non-religious ceremony, which he requested before his death.
Napolitano's son Giulio as well as granddaughter Sofia gave emotional speeches and paid tribute to his political work. Although the post is largely ceremonial, the occasional chaos of Italian democracy meant Napolitano had to step in several times to help the process, especially during the eurozone debt crisis.
"He could not stand demagogy, shouting and insults,"Giulio said.
Many mourners followed the funeral service outside on large screens. (DPA)
Source: Qatar Tribune