Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi passed away on Monday at the age of 86. He was admitted to the San Rafaelle Hospital in Milan last Friday due to a lung infection, which had worsened in recent days. Berlusconi had been diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia, a form of blood cancer that mainly affects people over 60. He had been undergoing specialized cytoreductive treatment and chemotherapy for the same. Several members of his family travelled to the hospital on Monday morning.
Berlusconi, the founder of Italy’s right-wing political party Forza Italia, had served as the head of government several times, and was also a senator after returning to elected office in the last elections. He was scheduled to meet senior members of his party over the weekend at his mansion in Arcore, which did not happen due to his deteriorating health.
Sex scandals, allegations of corruption, and a tax fraud conviction marred Berlusconi’s life and career. Despite being Italy’s longest-serving prime minister in the post-Second World War period, he was not free from controversies. He had been hospitalized on several occasions for different reasons, such as getting a pacemaker implanted, getting admitted for COVID-19, and a urinary tract infection in January 2022, just to name a few.
The media tycoon’s death has led to tributes from politicians across the world, including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Berlusconi’s demise marks the end of an era in Italian politics, leaving behind a legacy that spanned over two decades.
