Silvio Berlusconi's death leaves 'huge void' as Italy mourns longest-serving PM
The death of Silvio Berlusconi marks “the end of an era”, Italian politicians said on Monday as allies and adversaries alike paid tribute to the billionaire businessman who was Italy’s prime minister four times. | The billionaire media mogul turned politician had been suffering from serious health problems and had received treatment at a hospital in Milan. The media mogul was a huge presence on the Italian political scene for four decades, serving as Italian prime minister in four governments between 1994 and 1995, 2001 and 2006, and 2008 to 2011. He was renowned not just for his wealth and huge influence but also his saloon bar humour, frequent gaffes on the international stage and “bunga bunga” party sex scandals with models and prostitutes. His death at the age of 86 signals the “end of an era”, said Italy’s defence minister, Guido Crosetto, who is a member of the Brothers of Italy party led by the prime minister, Giorgia Meloni. It is the dominant force in a governing coalition that includes Mr Berlusconi’s centre-Right Forza Italia party. The death of Mr Berlusconi is “a great, enormous sorrow. It leaves a huge void because he was a great man. An era has ended, an era closes. I cared about him deeply. Goodbye Silvio,” the minister wrote in a tribute. (Photo: © CNN. )
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