How did the 2009 L’Aquila earthquake affect Silvio Berlusconi’s public activities?

Following the 2009 earthquake in L’Aquila, then-Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi actively focused his public activities on the disaster response. His efforts included:12

• Visiting the region: Berlusconi traveled to the area to meet with victims of the temblor, aiming to draw attention to the catastrophe.2
• Relocating the G8 Summit: At his insistence, the Group of Eight summit, originally scheduled for Maddalena Island, was moved to L’Aquila. The summit was held there in July 2009 under makeshift conditions to ensure global focus remained on the recovery efforts.12

While these actions were intended to demonstrate leadership, Berlusconi’s broader public standing during this period was simultaneously challenged by unrelated political and personal scandals.2