ROME (AP) 鈥� Roberto Maroni, a longtime leader of the right-wing Northern League party and a cabinet minister in ex-Premier Silvio Berlusconi鈥檚 three governments, died Tuesday at age 67, League leaders and the premier said.
State-run RAI television cited a family statement saying Maroni died at 4 a.m. after a long illness.
Maroni was a longtime associate of Northern League founder Umberto Bossi and was secretary of the party as it grew from a northern secessionist movement into a key ally in successive conservative governments, dating from Berlusconi鈥檚 rise in politics in the 1990s.
The party under current leader Matteo Salvini dropped 鈥淣orthern鈥� from the name in a bid to expand its geographic appeal and downplay a past that many saw as alienating Italy鈥檚 poorer south, and is now a coalition partner in Premier Giorgia Meloni's right-wing government.
A lawyer, Maroni served as interior minister in Berlusconi鈥檚 first 1994-1995 government, labor minister in his second government in 2001 and interior minister again in his third and final government in 2008-2011. Highly visible with his trademark red-rimmed glasses, he was an accomplished pianist and played in a band in his hometown, Varese.
In a statement Tuesday and later at a government press conference, Meloni praised Maroni as a friend who had served the country with 鈥済ood sense and concreteness.鈥�
Maroni represented the centrist wing of the party that was sometimes at odds with Salvini鈥檚 more firebrand leadership, but the League leader on Tuesday praised his lifetime of service to the party and country.
鈥淎 great secretary, super minister, great governor and League member forever," Salvini tweeted.
鈥淗e is someone who gave so much to the country, to Italy, to the League, to his community,鈥� Salvini told RTL radio.
Accolades also poured in from across the political spectrum, with former center-left Premier Paolo Gentiloni, now European economy commissioner, praising Maroni's passion, competence and loyalty. 鈥淎 loyal, kind and committed man,鈥� he tweeted.
A funeral was planned for Friday in Varese, Salvini said.
The Associated Press
