MILAN, June 12 (Reuters) – Silvio BerlusconiThe billionaire media mogul and former Italian prime minister who transformed the nation’s politics with polarizing policies and often alarmed his allies with his brash comments, died Monday at the age of 86.
Berlusconi, Italy’s longest-serving prime minister who featured Russian President Vladimir putin as a friend and gained notoriety for his “bunga bunga” sex parties, he had suffered from leukemia and recently developed a lung infection.
He died at the San Raffaele hospital in Milan, where he was admitted on Friday. Four of his five children and his brother Paolo were at his bedside, ANSA reported shortly before his death was announced.
A state funeral will be held in Milan on Wednesday.
Backed by enormous wealth and a media, real estate and soccer empire, Berlusconi launched into politics in 1994, overtaking traditional parties to become prime minister. Another businessman, Donald Trump, would mirror that approach in the United States two decades later.
Berlusconi’s Forza Italia party is now a junior partner in Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing coalition, and while he himself had no role in government, his death may bring new realignments in Italian politics.
His business empire also faces an uncertain future. He never publicly indicated who would take full charge of his MFE (MFEB.MI) company after his death, although his eldest daughter, Marina, is expected to play a leading role.
PUTIN’S ‘TRUE FRIEND’
Berlusconi’s death was lament by political allies and rivals at home and leaders abroad, including Putin, who he said was “a true friend. I have always sincerely admired his wisdom, his ability to make farsighted and balanced decisions, even in the most difficult situations.” difficult”.
That relationship was one of many in Berlusconi’s colorful public and private life that caused headaches for allies and fodder for his enemies.
Berlusconi refused to blame Putin for the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, saying Moscow only wanted to put “decent people” in charge. When Meloni visited kyiv this year, he insisted that Rome stands behind Ukraine despite anyone’s comments.
On Monday, he said: “We fought, we won, we lost many battles with him, and also for him we will bring home the goals that we had proposed together. Goodbye Silvio.”
Enrico Letta, a center-left former prime minister, wrote on Twitter: “Berlusconi made the history of our country. His death marks one of those moments when everyone, whether they supported his elections or not, feels affected.”
Another former prime minister, Mario Draghi, a non-partisan figure and one-time head of the European Central Bank, said Berlusconi “transformed politics and was loved by millions of Italians for his humanity and charisma.”
MFE’s A and B shares rose as much as 10% after Berlusconi’s death was reported, and traders on the Milan stock exchange said it could pave the way for the company to be sold or merged with a rival.
SCANDALS AND CONTROVERSIES
After building a real estate, soccer and television empire in the 1970s and 1980s, Berlusconi plunged into politics, becoming prime minister four times, in 1994-5, 2001-5, 2005-6 and 2008- 11, despite multiple legal scandals.
When he last resigned in 2011, Italy was close to a Greek-style debt crisis and his own reputation was tarnished by allegations that he had organized “bunga bunga” sex parties with underage women, something he denied.
He was acquitted on appeal of all charges related to the parties, but was convicted for tax fraud in 2013, which resulted in a five-year disqualification from holding public office.
Despite his failing health and relentless court battles, Berlusconi refused to cede control of Forza Italia and returned to frontline politics, winning a seat in the European Parliament in 2019 and in the Italian Senate last year.
Always tanned and vigorously promoted by his own media companies, Berlusconi brought his keen salesmanship and communicator skills to the serious world of politics, offering a bright and optimistic perspective that voters relished.
His sense of humor often got him into trouble, most recently in December when he told players on his Monza soccer team that he would bring them “a bus of whores” if they beat a Serie A rival.
Berlusconi is survived by his partner Marta Fascina, 33, whom he called his wife despite not marrying her, two ex-spouses, five children, more than a dozen grandchildren and a great-grandchild.
Reporting by Emilio Parodi, Giulio Piovaccari and Elvira Pollina; Written by Alvise Armellini; Edited by Edmund Blair
Our standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
Discover more from PressNewsAgency
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.