TheCitizen - It's all about you
  • Home
  • Headlines
  • Latest News
  • Governance
  • Business
  • Financial Crimes
  • Opinion
  • Editorials
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Headlines
  • Latest News
  • Governance
  • Business
  • Financial Crimes
  • Opinion
  • Editorials
No Result
View All Result
TheCitizen - It's all about you
No Result
View All Result

Former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi dies at 86

The Citizen by The Citizen
June 13 2023
in Global News, Latest News
A A
0
22
SHARES
734
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Silvio Berlusconi, the Italian former PM who overcame various scandals to hold office four times, has died at 86.

He died at the San Raffaele hospital in Milan. In April, he was treated for a lung infection linked to leukaemia.

Berlusconi’s death leaves a “huge void”, Italy’s defence minister said, with a national day of mourning due to take place on Wednesday.

The longest-serving prime minister in post-war Italy, he had bounced back from sex scandals and corruption cases.

After taking political office in 1994, the billionaire media tycoon led four governments until 2011 – though not consecutively.

Last September, Berlusconi’s centre-right Forza Italia party went into coalition under right-wing Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

Reacting to the news, Ms Meloni remembered her predecessor as a “fighter”. In a video message, she said he remained “one of the most influential men in the history of Italy”.

Her deputy Matteo Salvini said he was “broken” and thanked Berlusconi for his “friendship”, “advice” and “generosity”.

Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said: “An era is over… Farewell Silvio.” His death left a “huge void”, Mr Crosetto added in a tweet.

The Italian government has declared a national day of mourning for Wednesday, the same day Berlusconi’s funeral is scheduled to take place at Milan Cathedral.

“All Italian and European flags on public buildings will be lowered to half mast from Monday nationwide,” a spokesman told the media.

Another figure to pay tribute was Vladimir Putin, who called Berlusconi a “true friend”. In a statement the Russian President said he had always admired Berlusconi’s “wisdom” and “ability to make balanced, far-sighted decisions”.

French President Emmanuel Macron sent his condolences to Berlusconi’s family and the Italian people on behalf of the French people.

He described Berlusconi as “a major figure in contemporary Italy”, saying he was “at the forefront of the political scene for many years, from his first election as a member of parliament in 1994 to the senatorial mandate he held until his final days”.

In the US, White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said Italy was a major US ally and Berlusconi had “worked closely with several US administrations on advancing our bilateral relationship”.

Berlusconi had been suffering from a rare form of blood cancer, chronic myelomonocyte leukaemia, doctors at San Raffaele revealed in April.

He had repeated health problems after contracting Covid in 2020. So far, there has been no official confirmation of the precise cause of death.

  • Berlusconi obituary: Comeback king who led Italy four times
  • How Silvio Berlusconi changed Italy
  • Berlusconi, the belly dancer and the bunga bunga parties

Born in 1936 in Milan, Berlusconi began his career selling vacuum cleaners, before setting up a construction company.

He went on to become one of Italy’s richest men, building a business empire that included television networks, publishing companies and advertising agencies.

On top of that, he gained international recognition as owner of legendary football club AC Milan – which he saved from bankruptcy in 1986 – before going into politics in the 1990s.

Former AC Milan player and manager Carlo Ancelotti, who now manages the Real Madrid team, remembered Berlusconi as a “loyal, intelligent, sincere man”.

Mr Ancelotti, who twice won the Champions League with AC Milan under Berlusconi’s ownership, said the former PM had been a fundamental part of his journey “as a football player first, and then as a coach”.

Berlusconi was a polarising politician. He was praised by supporters for his business acumen and populist verve, but reviled by critics for his disregard for the rule of law.

Throughout his political career, he faced a string of legal troubles, including charges of bribery, tax fraud, and sex with an underage prostitute. He was convicted on several occasions, but avoided jail because of his age and the expiry of statutes of limitations. BBC

Share9Tweet6
Previous Post

JAMB to decide cut-off for varsities, others June 24

Next Post

‘Dead’ woman found breathing in coffin at own funeral

Related Posts

DHQ denies alleged coup attempt to topple fed govt
Headlines

DHQ denies alleged coup attempt to topple fed govt

October 18 2025
Madagascar’s military leader swears in as president
Global News

Madagascar’s military leader swears in as president

October 18 2025
Insecurity: Gunmen kill 15, kidnap 14 in Benue, Zamfara, Nasarawa, Lagos
Latest News

Police begin probe as bandits kill two officers in Kaduna

October 18 2025
Tinubu returns to Abuja after counterterrorism talks in Rome
Headlines

Tinubu returns to Abuja after counterterrorism talks in Rome

October 18 2025
Trump, Putin to meet in Budapest over Ukraine war
Global News

Trump, Putin to meet in Budapest over Ukraine war

October 17 2025
JAMB reschedules mock UTME  to April 10
Headlines

FG denies scrapping JAMB requirement for admission into tertiary institutions

October 17 2025
Next Post
Mediterranean crossing: Buhari to probe death of 26 Nigerian migrants as Italy buries victims

'Dead' woman found breathing in coffin at own funeral

Chibok abductions: Four years after – The Sun

Chibok Girls’ parents beg Tinubu to facilitate release of remaining 92 girls

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

FROM THE GRASSROOTS

ALGON orders Edo council officials to wear Tinubu’s signature caps

ALGON orders Edo council officials to wear Tinubu’s signature caps

by The Editor
October 18 2025
0

...

Olubadan unveils legal committee to tackle land grabbing

Olubadan unveils legal committee to tackle land grabbing

by The Editor
October 15 2025
0

...

Birnin Gwari needs urgent federal intervention – Emir tells Tinubu

Birnin Gwari needs urgent federal intervention – Emir tells Tinubu

by The Editor
October 13 2025
0

...

Rivers court adjourns hearing on LG poll legitimacy

Rivers court adjourns hearing on LG poll legitimacy

by The Editor
September 16 2025
0

...

APPOINTMENTS

Tinubu seeks Omidiran, 28 others’ confirmation as FCC members

Tinubu seeks Omidiran, 28 others’ confirmation as FCC members

by The Editor
October 15 2025
0

...

Okpebholo swears in 19 commissioners, warns against corruption

Okpebholo swears in 19 commissioners, warns against corruption

by The Editor
October 15 2025
0

...

Fubara drops Danagogo, appoints Anabraba as Rivers SSG

Fubara drops Danagogo, appoints Anabraba as Rivers SSG

by The Editor
October 13 2025
0

...

Savannah Energy signs agreement with Chadian govt for new renewable energy projects

Savannah Energy announces board changes, appoints two Nigerians as Independent Non-Executive Directors

by The Editor
October 9 2025
0

...

ODDITIES

Lagos to probe school over alleged sodomy

Father impregnates 15-year-old daughter in Ondo

by The Editor
October 17 2025
0

Court orders exhumation, autopsy of Afriland Towers fire victims

Court orders exhumation, autopsy of Afriland Towers fire victims

by The Editor
October 15 2025
0

Slain husband’s dad forgives Maryam Sanda, backs Tinubu’s pardon

Slain husband’s dad forgives Maryam Sanda, backs Tinubu’s pardon

by The Editor
October 14 2025
0

GLOBAL NEWS

Madagascar’s military leader swears in as president

Madagascar’s military leader swears in as president

by The Editor
October 18 2025
0

...

Trump, Putin to meet in Budapest over Ukraine war

Trump, Putin to meet in Budapest over Ukraine war

by The Editor
October 17 2025
0

...

2026 Hajj: Saudi govt approves 66,910 slots for Nigeria

2026 Hajj: Saudi govt approves 66,910 slots for Nigeria

by The Editor
October 17 2025
0

...

Trump persuades India to stop buying Russian oil

Trump persuades India to stop buying Russian oil

by The Editor
October 16 2025
0

...

Former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga dies in India

Former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga dies in India

by The Editor
October 15 2025
0

...

State of the States

21.8% North-East residents HIV positive – NBS …as 16,000 die from HIV complications in Borno

Adamawa records 8,850 new HIV infections in four years

by The Editor
October 17 2025
0

...

Zamfara APC condemns state govt’s mass sacking of civil servants

Zamfara APC condemns state govt’s mass sacking of civil servants

by The Editor
October 14 2025
0

...

Gov. Otti set to build modern fire station in Umuahia

Gov. Otti set to build modern fire station in Umuahia

by The Editor
October 7 2025
0

...

Senator denies bill to rename Kaduna to Zazzau State

Kaduna State pays ₦72,000 minimum wage

by The Editor
September 18 2025
0

...

Plugin Install : Widget Tab Post needs JNews - View Counter to be installed
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Imo police boss to probe officers in viral video with cult insignia

Imo police boss to probe officers in viral video with cult insignia

October 18 2025
DHQ denies alleged coup attempt to topple fed govt

DHQ denies alleged coup attempt to topple fed govt

October 18 2025
FG drives grassroot mobilisation campaign for PVC collection

FG drives grassroot mobilisation campaign for PVC collection

October 18 2025
Nigeria: IMF insists on fuel subsidy removal

Nigeria missing as IMF lists Africa’s fastest-growing economies

October 18 2025

EDITORIAL REVIEW

End female genital mutilation – Punch

End female genital mutilation – Punch

by The Editor
October 17 2025
0

Nnaji: Nigeria’s dodgy vetting processes – Punch

Nnaji: Nigeria’s dodgy vetting processes – Punch

by The Editor
October 16 2025
0

Vacations and governance: Why President Tinubu’s trip matters -Guardian

Tinubu, honour promise to ASUU – Punch

by The Editor
October 15 2025
0

The killings in the South East – Thisday

The killings in the South East – Thisday

by The Editor
October 14 2025
0

IOCs: Implement host communities’ projects – Punch

IOCs: Implement host communities’ projects – Punch

by The Editor
October 13 2025
0

Opinion

Tinubu finds his own demons

Next time, Umahi should go to NTA

by The Editor
October 16 2025
0

...

Objections over presidential pardon for grave offenders

Objections over presidential pardon for grave offenders

by The Editor
October 13 2025
0

...

1975 public service purge: What have we learnt?

1975 public service purge: What have we learnt?

by The Editor
September 30 2025
0

...

Tinubu finds his own demons

Nigeria’s state of weakness

by The Editor
September 18 2025
0

...

Plugin Install : Popular Post Widget need JNews - View Counter to be installed
  • Home
  • Headlines
  • Latest News
  • Governance
  • Business
  • Financial Crimes
  • Opinion
  • Editorials

© 2024 TheCitizen Ng. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Headlines
  • Latest News
  • Governance
  • Business
  • Financial Crimes
  • Opinion
  • Editorials

© 2024 TheCitizen Ng. All Rights Reserved.