Silvio Berlusconi, Italy Leader Mired in Scandal, Dies at 86
- Billionaire businessman served nine years as prime minister
- Career marked by crises, graft probes, ‘bunga bunga’ parties
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Silvio Berlusconi, the flamboyant media mogul whose reign as Italy’s longest-serving postwar prime minister was plagued by sex scandals and allegations of corruption, has died. He was 86.
The former premier was hospitalized Friday in Milan just three weeks after being released from a previous treatment after a long history of health ailments, including contracting Covid-19. This year he was treated for a pulmonary infection linked to chronic leukemia. His passing was confirmed on state television by the deputy coordinator of his Forza Italia party.