Silvio Berlusconi, former Italian prime minister dies

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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.”

Silvio Berlusconi ha fatto la storia in questo Paese. Tanti lo hanno amato, tanti lo hanno odiato: tutti oggi devono riconoscere che il suo impatto sulla vita politica ma anche economica, sportiva, televisiva è stato senza precedenti. Oggi l’Italia piange insieme alla famiglia,…

— Matteo Renzi (@matteorenzi) June 12, 2023

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.

AC Milan profondamente addolorato piange la scomparsa dell’indimenticabile Silvio Berlusconi e si stringe con affetto alla famiglia, ai collaboratori e agli amici più cari.
“Domani sogneremo altri traguardi, inventeremo altre sfide, cercheremo altre vittorie. Che valgano a… pic.twitter.com/CWmYy8xzwi

— AC Milan (@acmilan) June 12, 2023

La tristezza di oggi, non cancella i momenti felici passati insieme. Rimane una riconoscenza infinita al presidente, ma soprattutto ad un uomo ironico, leale, intelligente, sincero, fondamentale nella mia avventura da calciatore prima, e da allenatore poi. Grazie Presidente. pic.twitter.com/aRLSxxzUVz

— Carlo Ancelotti (@MrAncelotti) June 12, 2023

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.