Italy: Former PM Silvio Berlusconi dies at age 86

Tuesday, June 13, 2023

Silvio Berlusconi, a former prime minister of Italy, died yesterday in the San Raffaele Hospital in Milan at the age of 86.

Berlusconi's health had been in decline, with his doctor reporting in April that he had had leukaemia "for some time" after he was placed into intensive care with a lung infection.

Berlusconi was the longest-serving post-World War II prime minister of Italy across three non-consecutive ministries between 1994 and 2011. Forza Italia, the party he founded, have formed part of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's Brothers of Italy-led government since October.

Berlusconi's career included several scandals, such as when authorities charged him over allegedly organizing "bunga bunga" sex parties, female minors in attendance, at his villas; he was acquitted on those charges and for charges of bribing a witness in that trial, but convicted of tax fraud, having sex with a minor prostitute and abuse of power in attempting to have police release that prostitute after they detained her for alleged theft.

A spokesperson for British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak declared: "Silvio Berlusconi made a huge impact on Italian politics over several decades and our thoughts are with the Italian people and his family".

A national day of mourning was scheduled for Wednesday.

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Death and state funeral of Silvio Berlusconi

Related news

"Silvio Berlusconi convicted of sex with underage prostitute" — Wikinews, June 24, 2013
"Former Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi found guilty of fraud" — Wikinews, October 27, 2012

Sources

Angela Giuffrida, Lorenzo Tondo. Silvio Berlusconi, scandal-ridden former Italian prime minister, dies aged 86 — The Guardian, June 12, 2023
Hannah Roberts. Silvio Berlusconi obituary: The bunga bunga party loving billionaire who was the king of comebacks — The Independent, June 12, 2023
Dominic McGrath. Berlusconi made 'huge impact' on Italian politics, says No 10 — Evening Standard, June 12, 2023
Angela Giuffrida. Silvio Berlusconi living with leukaemia for some time, doctor confirms — The Guardian, April 6, 2023

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