Sergio D'Antoni

"(On Sergio Cofferati) In truth, he immediately withdrew from the national competition. He chose not to be defeated and to start over.*For me, the magic word is consultation. It's the word I grew up with.*The Reagan right considers consultation an obstacle. The antagonistic left considers it a betrayal."

"When Berlusconi said that people don't work much in Italy, he didn't realise that since his government came to power, the number of strike hours has increased dramatically."

"There is no such thing as the political climate, it is determined."

"(On the example of turncoat) Adornato. From militant communist to Berlusconism, or rather to the height of Berlusconism."

"Bondi, Schifani, Baget Bozzo cannot say three words in a row without mentioning Berlusconi."

"(On the period of Mani pulite) There is no doubt that there were exaggerations. But the collapse of the Christian Democrats and the Italian Socialist Party was a political affair, not a judicial one. Healthy parties would not have been overwhelmed."

"The personal party model that Berlusconi invented in the end is now imitated by everyone. What are they doing if not creating lots of personal parties? Bossi's party, Fini's party, Follini's party."

"(About Silvio Berlusconi) He is very good at winning elections, but he cannot govern. He knows how to present himself, but he does not know how to administer."

"Bruno Trentin liked mountaineering. When there was a match involving Italy, he rooted against them. Trentin gave the impression of intellectual coldness. But he was very nice. If we argued, we always ended up telling a joke."

"It was impossible to socialise or joke with him. Cofferati is the trade unionist with whom I had the most difficulty on a personal level."

"The only real, systemic law that was right to pass was the Gasparri law. But it should have been done differently and as it was, it should not have been voted for."

"(About Marcello Pera) When commemorating the anniversary of Falcone's death, you cannot attack magistrates."

"Prestigiacomo has done important things for women. But she shouldn't be going to all the Forza Italia events as a showgirl."

"I don't know who D'Antoni is. I didn't even know him when he was secretary of the CISL trade union. He's someone I don't trust."

"As leader of the CISL trade union, he was one of the most powerful trade unionists of the post-war period. He then attempted to rebuild the great Christian Democratic centre. He wandered through a deserted centre, ended up in Berlusconi's unwelcoming right wing and parked himself in Mastella's party."