Silvio Berlusconi was a media mogul who became prime minister of Italy, serving from 1994 to 1995, 2001 to 2006, and 2008 to 2011.
- Died: June 12, 2023 (Who else died on June 12?)
- Details of death: Died at a hospital in Milan after fighting chronic leukemia at the age of 86.
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Silvio Berlusconi’s legacy
Berlusconi entered the business world through construction, coming to prominence with the creation of the Milan-area gated community Milano Due. He moved into the media, establishing several commercial TV stations in the 1980s as alternatives to Italy’s state-run national networks. Offering lightweight and glitzy programming, Berlusconi’s networks became popular and helped build both his fortune and his fame.
Berlusconi leapt into political life in the mid-1990s, forming his own center-right political party, Forza Italia (“Go Italy”). He became prime minister by running on a populist, anti-communist platform and his campaign was buoyed by his outsized personality, but he served only briefly, replaced in 1995. He was elected again in 2001, and again in 2008 after losing the 2006 election. His political life came to an end in 2011 after a series of scandals: charges of political corruption, the strong downturn of Italy’s economy during his time in office, and an accusation of paying an underage girl for sex. Berlusconi resigned in 2011, and two years later he was convicted of paying for sex with an underage girl and sentenced to seven years in prison. But in 2014, his conviction was overturned upon appeal. In 2019, Berlusconi was elected to the European Parliament, serving through 2022.
Berlusconi was a polarizing figure in Italy, compulsively watchable to some and a source of frustration to others. His strongman style of leadership widely influenced Italian politics and culture, from the country’s economic crisis to his chaotic persona and lifestyle. Berlusconi’s political rise and influence have been compared to those of President Donald Trump in the U.S.
Notable quote
“I am the Jesus Christ of politics. I am a patient victim, I put up with everyone, I sacrifice myself for everyone.” —as quoted by the Italian media in 2006
Full obituary: The New York Times
