Italy :Silvio Berlusconi Dies at 86

Silvio Berlusconi, the billionaire media mogul who served as Italian prime minister three times between 1994 and 2011, has died. He was 86.

Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi 86-year-old was admitted to hospital for scheduled leukemia tests in Milan on Friday -for the third time this year-, weeks after being discharged following a long stay, ANSA reported.

Doctors confirmed he was treated for a type of chronic leukemia during that stay after he was hospitalized on March 27 for three days for tests related to heart issues. He also was rushed into intensive care on April 5 after suffering from severe breathlessness and stayed in hospital for 45 days, While in hospital in April and May, Berlusconi addressed party members at a conference via video link and sent messages to supporters saying he was ready to return to work.

Berlusconi’s health has deteriorated markedly in recent years, with open-heart surgery in 2016 and numerous hospital admissions since contracting Covid9 three years ago.

Berlusconi served as prime minister in 1994-95, 2001-06 and 2008-11. Though he does not have a direct role in government, his Forza Italia party is a member of Giorgia Meloni’s rightwing coalition.

A source from Forza Italia said Berlusconi may spend the night in hospital, after local media reports that he would stay overnight.

Berlusconi entertained several business ventures in tandem with his political tenure, accruing a fortune estimated at around $7 billion in June. He was the controlling shareholder of Italy’s largest commercial broadcaster, Mediaset, whose shares rose 8.3% on Monday morning. The former Italian leader had promised — but failed — to sell his assets in the media company when he was prime minister. He also owned the Italian football club A.C. Milan from 1986 to 2017.

Berlusconi’s extensive political career included appointments as Italian prime minister from 1994 to 1995, 2001 to 2006 and 2008 to 2011. He worked as a member of the European Parliament since 2019, where he also served from 1999 to 2001. His Forza Italia party is currently a junior partner in Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s ruling right-wing coalition.

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.Sarah H

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