Silvio Berlusconi, 86, passed away

According to reports, the politician died on Monday at Milan’s San Raffaele hospital.

Silvio Berlusconi, a former Italian prime minister, passed away at the age of 86.

On Friday, he was admitted to Milan’s San Raffaele hospital. Since then, there have been no official reports on his health, but Corriere della Sera reported that he had a “very serious” condition.

The Forza Italia party leader’s children reportedly arrived at the hospital just before news of his passing broke, according to RAI broadcaster.

Leukemia patient Berlusconi was previously admitted to the hospital in April for breathing issues and spent 45 days there fighting a lung infection. According to doctors, his cancer was “not acute.”

Between 1994 and 1995, 2001 and 2006, and 2008 to 2011, Berlusconi led four Italian governments. As a result, he held the position of prime minister for the longest time since the despot Benito Mussolini.

He was a well-known media mogul who started the Mediaset television network and owned the AC Milan soccer team from 1986 to 2017.

Over the course of his political and business career, Berlusconi had faced more than 30 trials for alleged crimes including abuse of office, defamation, and connections to organized crime.

The former prime minister was cleared earlier this year in the “Ruby” trial, which was brought against him on suspicion of buying off witnesses in a previous case in which he was accused of paying for sex with a minor prostitute but was later found not guilty.

2013 saw the end of Berlusconi’s ability to hold public office after he was given a four-year prison term for tax fraud. After the suspension was lifted in 2018, he was elected to the European Parliament (MEP) the following year.

Following the fall of Mario Draghi’s government, the seasoned politician declared his electoral comeback in Italy last year. In September, he was elected to the Senate.

As part of a center-right coalition with the Brothers of Italy party of current Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Lega Nord (Northern League), and Us Moderates, Berlusconi’s Forza Italia party won 45 seats in the hastily held election.

Berlusconi harshly criticized the PM for taking a pro-Kiev stance in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine despite being a member of Meloni’s ruling coalition. He repeatedly called for Moscow and Kiev to agree to a ceasefire and accused Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky of starting the fighting. He also offered to act as a mediator.

Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto referred to Berlusconi’s death as the end of an era. He added in a tweet that he “loved” the former prime minister and that his passing has left a “huge void.”

A great Italian “decided to say goodbye to us,” according to Lega Nord leader Matteo Salvini, who also called for a moment of silence to honor his memory.

Following Berlusconi’s passing, Russian President Vladimir Putin sent his condolences, describing him as “a true patriot” who contributed significantly to Italy’s social and economic development while also bolstering its position in the EU and on the international stage.

“Silvio was a dear person to me and a true friend. I have truly valued his wisdom throughout the years,” the president wrote.

According to Putin, Berlusconi will be remembered in Russia as a steadfast supporter of improving ties between Moscow and Rome. He also made a “truly invaluable personal contribution” to the growth of friendly relations between Italy and Russia.