Allies say Silvio Berlusconi’s death leaves ‘a huge void’

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By David Giglione and Sam Hancock BBC News, Rome and London Jun 12, 2023 09:40 BST

Updated 31 minutes ago

photo caption,

Berlusconi led the centre-right Forza Italia party and was elected to the Senate last September

Silvio Berlusconi, the former Italian prime minister who bounced back from sex scandals and allegations of corruption, has died at the age of 86.

Italian media reported that he died at the San Raffaele Hospital in Milan.

In April, Berlusconi was treated for a lung infection linked to chronic leukemia. The Italian defense minister said his death left a “great void”.

A flamboyant billionaire businessman, Berlusconi first took office in 1994 and led four governments until 2011.

He led the center-right Forza Italia party, which entered a coalition led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni after the election in September, when it was elected to the Italian Senate.

Reacting to the news, Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini said he was “devastated” and thanked Berlusconi for his “friendship”, “advice” and “generosity”.

Meanwhile, Defense Minister Guido Croceto said, “An era has ended… Farewell Silvio,” Croceto wrote in a tweet. He added that his death left “a huge void”.

Doctors in San Rafael revealed in April that the former leader was suffering from a rare form of blood cancer, chronic myeloid leukemia.

To date, there is no official confirmation of the direct cause of death. He has had recurring health issues since contracting Covid in 2020.

Born in 1936 in Milan, Berlusconi began his career selling vacuum cleaners before founding a construction company.

He became one of the wealthiest men in Italy, building a vast business empire that included television networks, publishing companies, and advertising agencies.

On top of that, he gained international recognition as the owner of legendary soccer club AC Milan – whom he saved from bankruptcy in 1986 – before entering politics in the 1990s.

Berlusconi was a polarizing politician. Supporters praised him for his business acumen and populist vigor, but critics rebuked him for his disregard for the rule of law.

Throughout his political career, he faced a series of legal troubles, including charges of bribery, tax fraud, and having sex with an underage prostitute. He was convicted on several occasions, but managed to avoid jail time due to his age and the expiration of the statute of limitations.

While he remained a major force in Italian politics, his legacy has been the subject of debate. Some praise him as a champion of free enterprise and a defender of Italian values, while others see him as a symbol of corruption and moral decay.

Berlusconi’s death marks the end of an era in Italian politics and media, and leaves a complex and controversial legacy that will be debated for years to come.

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