The leader of Forza Italia, founder of Mediaset, former AC Milan owner and infamous Bunga Bunga party host passed away at the San Raffaele hospital in Milan at 9.30am this morning.
His brother Paolo Berlusconi and children Marina, Eleonora, Barbara and Pier Silvio Berlusconi, rushed to the Milan hospital when doctors said the former PM was at the point of death.
Berlusconi was readmitted to hospital on Friday last week, with his doctors saying he had suffered “for some time” from myelomonocytic leukaemia.
About a month earlier, the politician received his most recent diagnosis – acute leukaemia – which is a cancer of the blood cells that required intensive therapy to correct blood oxygenation.
Berlusconi was hospitalised in Milan on April 5 with a lung infection stemming from the disease, said his personal physician Dr. Alberto Zangrillo.
He also suffered over the years from heart ailments, prostate cancer and was hospitalized for Covid-19 in 2020.
A one-time cruise ship crooner, Berlusconi used his television networks and immense wealth to launch his long political career, inspiring both loyalty and loathing.The billionaire first came to office in 1994 and led four governments in Italy until 2011. He was Italy’s longest-serving premier despite scandals over his sex-fueled parties and allegations of corruption.
To admirers, the three-time premier was a capable and charismatic statesman who sought to elevate Italy on the world stage. To critics, he was a populist who threatened to undermine democracy by wielding political power as a tool to enrich himself and his businesses.
His Forza Italia political party was a coalition partner with current Premier Giorgia Meloni, a far-right leader who came to power last year, although he held no position in the government.
His friendship with Russian President Vladimir Putin put him at odds with Meloni, who is a staunch supporter of Ukraine.
On his 86th birthday, while the war raged, Putin sent Berlusconi best wishes and vodka, and the Italian boasted he returned the favour by sending back Italian wine.
Source: Mirror
In other news-New Zealand PM announces China trade visit
New Zealand Prime Minister, Chris Hipkins announced on Monday a visit to China later this month aimed at boosting trade ties, despite deepening concerns about Beijing’s actions in the Pacific.
“Today I can announce that I’ll be leading a major trade delegation to China at the end of this month,” Hipkins said.
With stops in Beijing, Tianjin and Shanghai, it will be the first visit to China by a New Zealand leader since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. Read more
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