Alessandro Bertoldi, his work and commitment for the promotion of peace and freedom

Despite his young age, Alessandro Bertoldi is a well-known consultant in Italy. His services are sought after by politicians, entrepreneurs, and international organizations alike. As the founder of the communications and lobbying group AB Group, president of the Milton Friedman Institute, and head of the Alliance for Israel, he embarked on his career alongside Silvio Berlusconi. In this interview, first published in the French magazine ENTREVUE, he shares insights into his career and offers a glimpse into his vision of the world.

Your political journey began at a very young age, alongside Silvio Berlusconi. What did you like about him?

ALESSANDRO BERTOLDI:

My generation was born witnessing Silvio Berlusconi's constant presence in Italian public life. He started as an entrepreneur, publisher, and founder of the most important Italian television group. Later, he transitioned to a career in politics, becoming the Prime Minister with the longest tenure in our republican history.

My passion for him stemmed more from his unique personality than his politics.

While Berlusconi was arguably Italy's greatest businessman, he also faced heavy criticism at times..

Yes, he faced significant criticism for his peculiar personality. Like all great figures, he excelled in numerous qualities but also had a few marked flaws.

How was your first meeting with him?

"Fortunately, I met him through my friend Senator Michaela Biancofiore, who was close to him and eager to introduce us. At the time, I was already the leader of the centre-right students. One weekend in the winter of 2012, she took me to Arcore, in front of the front doors of her famous villa. I was speechless. The president greeted us with a broad smile. He showed me around his house and when we got to the dining room, Berlusconi said to me: "You see Alessandro, this is the famous 'Bunga bunga!' room, and he laughed. At the time, he had just been accused of having many parties with escort girls in his house, but as he told me, this accusation turned out to be defamatory and these parties were nothing more than dinners in which people sang and danced. In the years since, I attended several fun dinners, where nothing unusual ever happened. Before leaving, the photographer took a picture of us, and the president wanted to leave me in a big hug. A few months later, this photo was published in all the Italian newspapers, and at the age of 18, I became, by his decision, the youngest political leader in the history of Italy. Berlusconi has honoured me with his trust on several occasions, he has been welcoming, and affectionate and I will never forget that day. His good manners, intelligence, vision, elegance and generosity to others were extraordinary qualities, hard to find in such a rich and powerful man.

How did you experience his passing?

I had a very tough time. He had become a point of reference for everyone, a father figure for the country. I'm not ashamed to say it, I cried that day and felt a great emptiness. At his funeral, I felt the love that the Italian people had for him, the great legacy that this man left to the country, and I felt more at peace.

With the Milton Friedman Institute, you are fighting battles for individual and economic freedoms today. What are your goals?

The Friedman Institute, which I co-founded, is a source of great pride for me. We are present in more than 30 countries around the world, and we fight for common values: economic and individual freedoms. From the defence of Israel's right to exist to the defence of Ukraine's sovereignty to the fight for the rights of the Iranian people, those of women, without forgetting, in the West, the battle against the excessive taxation that afflicts our companies. We also defend the fundamental protection of civil rights. Our goal is to become the largest Liberal "house" in the world.

You have been engaged in dialogue for peace in Russia, Ukraine and the Middle East for ten years. What do you think of the current situation?

Without freedom, there can be no human development in societies. Since 2014, we've been committed to resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict. In that year, I proposed the South Tyrolean autonomy model as a solution, which reached the negotiating table in Minsk. Despite initial optimism, it did not materialize. In the Middle East, we have always paid particular attention to dialogue. The battle for the survival of the State of Israel, which was fundamental to us, must be waged in accordance with the two-state solution. We Italians, anticipated the Abrahamic pacts, promoting dialogue between the Arab countries and Israel. But now that there are no more leaders like Berlusconi, dialogue is no longer the priority, war is once again the "solution". I am very worried because without dialogue, we are heading towards an increasingly global conflict.

How are Italian and European societies evolving today?

Unfortunately, in society, dialogues are becoming less frequent, and conflicts are multiplying. There is a tendency to think less. The main change is the lack of interest in cultural values and traditions. Without a clear identity, finding a point of reference in life becomes difficult. Values such as democracy, individual freedoms, meritocracy, traditions, languages, respect for the rights of others, and the enhancement of our cultures are too often neglected today.

What's your next goal?

I aspire for our network of professionals and liberals to play a pivotal role in resolving conflicts and mediating towards peaceful solutions worldwide. Achieving this goal would be a concrete dream, providing the greatest personal satisfaction for me and our group of friends dedicated to promoting peace and dialogue. Today, there is nothing more crucial than being active protagonists and defenders of peace.

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