Silvio Berlusconi, the former Prime Minister of Italy, has passed away at the age of 86, as confirmed by his spokesperson to AFP on Monday. Berlusconi, a billionaire media mogul, had been admitted to a Milan hospital on Friday for previously planned tests related to his leukaemia.
Throughout his political career, Berlusconi played a significant role in shaping Italy’s political and cultural landscape, despite facing numerous legal and sex scandals. He served as Prime Minister three times between 1994 and 2011, with a total of nine years in office. While he promised economic success to voters, he was ultimately forced to step down during a debt crisis in his country.
Berlusconi’s health had been a concern for several years, with various medical issues, including heart surgery in 2016 and hospitalization due to COVID-19 in 2020, due to this, he made very few public appearances, Despite his infrequent public appearances, he retained his position as the official head of the right-wing Forza Italia party, which was part of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s coalition government. Showing how passionate he is, as regards the governance of the country.
Beyond his political influence, Berlusconi’s extensive media empire, including television, newspapers, and sporting interests, made him a prominent figure in Italian society. His playboy lifestyle also kept him in the spotlight, even in his later years, as had been divorced twice, and had dated several young girls, his current girlfriend is 33 years old.
Former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi acknowledged Berlusconi’s impact on Italy, he said that even though Berlusconi had many haters, they cannot deny his impact in several spheres in the country.
“Silvio Berlusconi made history in this country. Many loved him, many hated him: everyone today must recognize that his impact on political, economic, sporting, and television life was unprecedented.”
He was the owner and CEO of AC Milan from 1986 to 2017, during his reign the club won numerous trophies, they won five Champions League titles and eight Italian league titles. One can safely say that he lived his life well.
Berlusconi is survived by his 33-year-old girlfriend, Marta Fascina, two ex-wives, and five children, some of whom are involved in managing his vast empire. The estimated worth of his empire is around seven billion dollars.
His funeral arrangements has not been announced.
