Former Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi passes away

Silvio Berlusconi, who served three terms as prime minister of Italy, died on June 12 at the age of 86 after a long hospital stay.

Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi died at the age of 86 at the San Raffaele hospital in Milan today. Four of his five children and his brother Paolo were at his bedside when he died.

A state funeral for the former Italian prime minister is scheduled to be held on June 14.

Silvio Berlusconi was born in 1936 into a middle-class family in Milan. He graduated with a law degree in 1961 and began his career in construction before moving into media and finance.

His influence is not only in politics, but also in the media and sports, especially football. Berlusconi bought AC Milan in 1986, saving them from bankruptcy. The more than 30 years under Berlusconi's ownership are considered the most glorious period in AC Milan's history.

Mr. Silvio Berlusconi leaves a polling station in Milan on May 26, 2019. Photo: AFP — Mr. Silvio Berlusconi leaves a polling station in Milan on May 26, 2019. Photo: *AFP*

Forbes magazine once ranked Berlusconi as the 188th richest person in the world with a fortune of 6.2 billion USD. From his success in business and fame in football, he moved into politics, founding the Forza Italia party in 1993 and becoming one of the most famous politicians in the country's history.

Berlusconi served as Prime Minister of Italy three times, from 1994-1995, 2001-2006 and 2008-2011, for a total of nine years in power. In 2005, Berlusconi dissolved his government to form a new one but kept the same coalition partners. Therefore, some media outlets wrote that he served as Prime Minister of Italy four times, dividing his 2001-2006 tenure into two periods: 2001-2005 and 2005-2006.

Mr Berlusconi was elected prime minister on economic promises, but has been criticised for failing to deliver. Experts describe him as running the country with "incredible" energy but lacking a long-term vision for economic development. The country's competitiveness, defined by its exports, has steadily declined, while public spending has steadily increased.

In 2011, Mr. Berlusconi resigned amid the country's financial crisis. In the following years, Mr. Berlusconi accused the leaders of France, Germany, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and several other global economic and financial powers and institutions of pressuring him to resign because he refused to accept a loan from the IMF. The former Italian prime minister said that the loan was tantamount to "selling out the country to the IMF."

In foreign affairs, Berlusconi has supported many US policies, and has drawn closer to Israel and Türkiye. Berlusconi has been one of the strongest advocates for closer ties between Russia and the EU, even suggesting that Moscow join the union, saying that "it is not a distant dream". He has a warm personal relationship with Russian President Putin, and the two have continued to meet after Berlusconi stepped down in 2011.

The former Italian prime minister had heart problems and fainted while giving a speech in 2006. He had to use a pacemaker afterwards and was also treated for prostate cancer.

In 2012, Berlusconi was convicted of tax fraud and corruption, banned from politics and sentenced to prison. Since 2016, Berlusconi's health has begun to decline, with heart valve replacement surgery.

His political ban was lifted ahead of the 2018 elections, and Berlusconi was elected to the European Parliament in 2019. He was hospitalized in September 2020 with Covid-19. He suffered from symptoms for months, leaving the former prime minister with the lowest attendance rate of any member of the European Parliament between 2019 and 2022.

Berlusconi, who has been married twice and has five children, was diagnosed with leukemia in April and underwent chemotherapy.

His Forza Italia party is now a junior partner in Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's right-wing coalition. Although he no longer holds a role in the country's leadership, Berlusconi's departure could lead to changes in Italian politics.

His business empire also faces an uncertain future. Berlusconi has never announced who will inherit his media company MediaForEurope (MFE) after his death, even though his eldest daughter Marina is expected to play a major role in the company.

Politicians, even those in Mr Berlusconi's opposition, have stressed the former prime minister's influence on the country.

Enrico Letta, the former centre-left Italian prime minister, wrote on Twitter: "Berlusconi made history for our country. His departure marks one of those moments when everyone, whether they supported his choices or not, feels affected."

Former Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, who holds non-partisan views, said Berlusconi "changed politics and was loved by millions of Italians for his kindness and charisma".

"Silvio Berlusconi was above all a fighter, a man who was never afraid to defend his beliefs. It was this courage and determination that made him one of the most influential people in the country's history," said right-wing Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in a statement.

Vu Anh

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