- Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi dies at age 86 after a fight with illness
- The official was the country's longest-serving prime minister in the post-war era
- Berlusconi had bounced back four times in his political career amid sex scandals and corruption cases
Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has died at the age of 86 years after a fight with illness and a political career rife with scandals.
The former official was pronounced dead at the San Raffaele hospital in Milan as he was transported to the medical establishment in April to be treated for a lung infection linked to leukemia.
Italy's Silvio Berlusconi Dead at 86
The death of the former prime minister has left a massive void, said the country's defense minister, as a national day of mourning is expected to take place on Wednesday. Berlusconi was Italy's longest-serving prime minister in the post-war era, bouncing back and holding office four times amid sex scandals and corruption cases, as per BBC.
Berlusconi took office in 1994 and continued to lead four governments thru 2011, but not consecutively. Last year, the billionaire media tycoon's center-right Forza Italia party joined a coalition led by right-wing Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Meloni reacted to the news of Berlusconi's death by remembering him as a "fighter," posting a video message where she said he remained "one of the most influential men in the history of Italy."
Matteo Salvini, Meloni's deputy, said that he was "broken" and expressed his gratitude to Berlusconi for his "friendship," "advice," and "generosity." On the other hand, Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said in a Twitter post that the former prime minister's death marks the end of an era.
Several foreign leaders, many opposed to Berlusconi's politics, also expressed their condolences on Monday for the former Italian prime minister's death. According to CNN, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also paid a short tribute to Berlusconi, saying that she was "saddened" by the news of his passing.
Remembering the Former Italian Prime Minister
Von der Leyen said that Berlusconi led his country during the political transition and has since continued to shape his beloved Italy. During a news conference on Monday, German government spokesman Wolfgang Buchner said that his country was also expressing condolences to the Italian people and its government.
Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic posted on Twitter, sharing his "sincere condolences" to Italy's people, adding that Berlusconi leaves a "remarkable legacy." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also chipped in, saying that the former Italian prime minister was a great friend of his country.
While Berlusconi's first run as the Italian prime minister was short-lived, his second time in office, starting in 2001, resulted from the public overwhelmingly choosing him. At the time, he became the head of the country's largest parliamentary majority since World War II.
Berlusconi's victory in 2008 demoralized a generation on the left as opponents were both obsessed with him but vexed by him. He was considered a highly guarded politician but faced several international faux pas, said the New York Times.
