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Silvio Berlusconi, Italy’s scandal-plagued former leader, dead at 86. Silvio Berlusconi, the boastful billionaire media mogul who was Italy’s longest-serving premier despite scandals over his sex-fueled parties and allegations of corruption, died Monday, according to his television network.
Mediaset announced his death with a smiling photo of the man on its homepage and the headline: “Berlusconi is dead.”
Silvio Berlusconi was an Italian media tycoon and politician who was a prominent figure in Italian politics for many years. Born on September 29, 1936, in Milan, Italy, Berlusconi made his fortune through his media empire, which included television networks, publishing houses, and sports teams. He founded the company Fininvest in 1978, which later evolved into the Mediaset Group, one of the largest media companies in Italy.
Berlusconi entered politics in the early 1990s and founded the Forza Italia party (now known as Forza Italia - Berlusconi's People of Freedom) in 1994. He quickly rose to prominence and became Prime Minister of Italy for the first time from 1994 to 1995. He served as Prime Minister again from 2001 to 2006 and from 2008 to 2011, making him the longest-serving Prime Minister in the history of Italy.
During his time in office, Berlusconi implemented various policies and reforms. He aimed to improve Italy's economy, reduce unemployment, and streamline bureaucracy. However, his political career was marred by controversies and legal issues. He faced numerous allegations of corruption, bribery, tax evasion, and improper conduct. Berlusconi was involved in several high-profile trials and was convicted of various offenses, although some of these convictions were later overturned or expired due to statutes of limitations.
Berlusconi's leadership style was often characterized as flamboyant and charismatic. He presented himself as a populist leader and relied heavily on his media outlets to shape public opinion. His political career was marked by a colorful personality and a penchant for making controversial remarks.
In 2013, Berlusconi was found guilty of tax fraud and was subsequently expelled from the Italian Senate. Despite his legal troubles, he remained a significant figure in Italian politics and continued to exert influence over his party. However, in recent years, his political influence has diminished, and Forza Italia has faced challenges in maintaining its popularity.
Source: Some or all of the content was generated using an AI language model
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