Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi Dies at 86

Silvio Berlusconi, the former Prime Minister of Italy, passed away at the age of 86. Berlusconi was hospitalized on Friday for the second time in months for treatment of chronic leukemia. He also suffered over the years from heart ailments, prostate cancer and was hospitalized for COVID-19 in 2020. Berlusconi was last admitted to San Raffaele Milan Hospital on the previous Friday for routine medical assessments. This came a few weeks after he had been released following treatment for a lung infection, a complication from chronic myelomonocytic leukemia. Having served as Italy's prime minister from 1994 to 1995, 2001 to 2006, and 2008 to 2011, Berlusconi had a significant impact on Italian politics. From 2019, he was a serving member of the European Parliament, a role he also held from 1999 to 2001. In addition, from 1986 to 2017, he owned AC Milan.