Former Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi dies at 86 after battling leukaemia
Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has passed away at the age of 86. He was pronounced dead at San Raffaele hospital in Milan, as reported by Italian media. Berlusconi had been treated for a lung infection in April, which was connected to a previously undisclosed case of chronic leukaemia.
Berlusconi was a prominent billionaire media tycoon before entering politics. He first took office in 1994 and led four governments until 2011. He was the leader of the centre-right Forza Italia party, which formed a coalition with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s party after the September elections. Berlusconi was elected to Italy’s upper house, the Senate, during this time.
Italy’s Defence Minister Guido Crosetto expressed his sorrow at Berlusconi’s passing, stating that it left a “huge void.” He added, “An era is over… Farewell Silvio,” and mentioned his deep affection for the former leader. Doctors at San Raffaele revealed earlier this year that Berlusconi had been suffering from a rare form of blood cancer, chronic myelomonocyte leukaemia. There has been no official confirmation regarding the immediate cause of his death. Berlusconi had experienced numerous health issues since contracting Covid in 2020.
Born in Milan in 1936, Berlusconi initially worked as a vacuum cleaner salesman before establishing a construction company. He eventually became one of Italy’s wealthiest individuals, amassing his fortune through ownership of various television channels. He gained international fame as the owner of the renowned football club AC Milan, which he rescued from bankruptcy in 1986, before embarking on his political career.
