Berlusconi was admitted to the intensive care unit of the renowned San Raffaele clinic in Milan on Wednesday last week after complaining of breathing problems. The doctors found a “lung infection”.
In recent years, Berlusconi has repeatedly struggled with serious health problems. The multi-billionaire had open heart surgery in 2016, in 2019 for an intestinal obstruction, and in 2021 he spent more than three weeks in the hospital due to the consequences of a corona infection.
Berlusconi has dominated public life in Italy for decades in a variety of roles – not just as a politician, but also as a media mogul and longtime owner of football club AC Milan. Between 1994 and 2011 he was prime minister three times.
Berlusconi’s career has been marked by various scandals. He faced charges of multiple alleged economic and corruption offenses and his role in the notorious bunga bunga sex parties. In 2013 he was convicted of tax fraud.
The right-wing conservative party Forza Italia, founded and led by Berlusconi, has been part of the governing coalition led by far-right Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni since October, but has lost importance in recent years. Berlusconi himself was elected to the Senate in September’s parliamentary elections.
