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Rom Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is dead. He died in a Milan hospital on Monday at the age of 86. In the past few decades, the billionaire had determined politics in Italy like no other, but at the same time also polarized it extremely.

Berlusconi was born on September 29, 1936, was initially a businessman and since 1994 has been Prime Minister of four Italian governments. He helped determine the fate of the country for more than two decades and was controversial throughout his life, but was also admired by many.

Above all, authoritarian and right-wing conservative heads of state and government personally expressed their regret over Berlusconi’s death on Monday. “For me, Silvio was a dear person, a real friend,” wrote Kremlin boss Vladimir Putin in a telegram of condolence. He praised the former Italian Prime Minister, with whom he remained in contact even following the attack on Ukraine, for his foresight, balanced decisions, humor and joie de vivre, as he wrote. Berlusconi’s death was an “irreplaceable loss and a deep misfortune”.

“The great fighter is gone!” Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban wrote on his Facebook page. The right-wing populist was one of Berlusconi’s early admirers, with whom he was a personal friend. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was “deeply saddened” and offered his condolences to Berlusconi’s family and the Italian people. “Silvio was a great friend of Israel and always stood by us. Rest in peace my friend.”

Other condolences were more sober. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen tweeted that Berlusconi “led Italy through a period of political transition and has continued to shape his beloved country ever since.”

There was also a reaction from Berlin to the news from Italy. “We learned today of the death of former Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi. We express our condolences to the Italian people and the Italian government,” said Deputy Federal Government Spokesman Wolfgang Büchner.

According to Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, Berlusconi’s death leaves a huge void. “I loved him very much. Farewell Silvio,” Crosetto wrote on Twitter. “He was a man who was never afraid to defend his beliefs. That courage and determination made him one of the most influential men in Italian history,” said Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The former head of government was “above all a fighter”.

Together with Berlusconi’s conservative Forza Italia party and Matteo Salvini’s populist Lega, Meloni forms a right-right-centre coalition in Rome. “Today we say goodbye to a great Italian. One of the greatest of all time, in all areas, from all points of view, incomparable”, Salvini tweeted.

Ex-Prime Minister Mario Draghi said Berlusconi had changed politics. He was loved by millions of Italians “for his humanity and his charisma”.

For the former head of government Mario Monti, Berlusconi was the “father of all populists”, he once called himself “Jesus Christ of politics”. Again and once more there were allegations of conflicts of interest between his office and the media empire Mediaset, which he controls. He also had to face numerous lawsuits.

He was expelled from Parliament in 2013 in connection with a tax evasion fine and was banned from holding public office in the following years. He complained once morest it before the European Court of Human Rights. Most recently he was a member of the Senate, the smaller of the two chambers of parliament in Rome.

Acquitted in “Bunga-Bunga” trial

In March 2015 he was finally acquitted in the “Bunga-Bunga” trial for sex with underage prostitutes and abuse of office. Follow-up proceedings for bribery of witnesses also ended in acquittal. However, the conflicts with the law did not dampen his popularity with many Italians.

In the wake of the financial crisis, he finally had to resign as prime minister in 2011. Again and once more he tried the political comeback for a top office. But the “Cavaliere” did not manage to make a roaring return to the big stage. His last dream of becoming president also burst in early 2022.

In terms of health, Berlusconi repeatedly had major health problems in his last years: in 2016 he had heart surgery, in 2020 he had to go to the hospital because of a corona infection and pneumonia. In 2022 he was also hospitalized for a urinary tract infection.

In 1997 he underwent surgery for a prostate tumour. He had also had a pacemaker for several years. Recently it became known that he suffers from chronic leukemia.

His Forza Italia, which he had made the largest party in the 1994 parliamentary elections, continued to shrink in the boot state. This was also due to the fact that Berlusconi hardly allowed any political heirs and Forza Italia was always associated with his name. After all, she made it back into government as a small partner of Giorgia Meloni in autumn 2022.

In private, too, Berlusconi always made headlines. The twice-divorced politician leaves behind five children and many grandchildren. Most recently, he was with Forza Italia MP Marta Fascina, who was more than 50 years younger than Berlusconi.

More: Obituary for Silvio Berlusconi – He didn’t want to stop until the end, wanted to get involved, even at the age of 86 and with limited health