Silvio Berlusconi, former Italian prime minister dies
Now Reading
Silvio Berlusconi, former Italian prime minister dies

Silvio Berlusconi, former Italian prime minister dies

Silvio Berlusconi was prime minister of Italy three times between 1994 and 2011 and his party is a junior partner in the current ruling coalition

Marisha Singh
Silvio Berlusconi

Italy’s former prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi has died aged 86. The billionaire businessman and veteran politician’s death was reported by multiple news outlets.

Berlusconi had been hospitalised in recent days as he battled leukemia. His visit to Milan’s San Raffaele hospital on Friday was for planned medical checks, his doctors said in a statement. However, reports over the weekend said he had contracted a lung infection which had caused his condition to deteriorate.

Former Prime Minister and leader of the political party Italia Viva, Matteo Renzi, paid tribute to Berlusconi. Renzi said Berlusconi made history.

He wrote: “Many loved him, many hated him: everyone today must recognize that his impact on political but also economic, sporting and television life was unprecedented.

“Today Italy mourns together with its family, its loved ones, its companies, its party. To all those who loved him, my most affectionate and most sincere embrace.

“In these hours I carry with me the memories of our meetings… of our agreements, of our clashes.”

The billionaire media tycoon suffered several bouts of ill health in recent years, including contracting Covid-19 in 2020.

Berlusconi was prime minister of Italy three times between 1994 and 2011. He was banned nine years ago from public office for tax fraud, but was back in parliament, elected to Italy’s Senate before he turned 86 in September 2022. His Forza Italia party is a junior partner in Giorgia Meloni’s current ruling coalition.

The late Italian prime minister began his career in real estate before going on to found Mediaset, Italy’s largest commercial television broadcaster. He also owned the AC Milan football club between 1986 and 2017. The club has published a tribute to their former owner.

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti, who twice won the Champions League with AC Milan under Berlusconi’s ownership, tweeted his tribute. “Today’s sadness doesn’t erase the happy moments spent together,” he writes before calling Berlusconi a “loyal, intelligent, sincere man,” who was fundamental to his journey as a player and coach.


© 2021 MOTIVATE MEDIA GROUP. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Scroll To Top