Matteo Salvini raises Silvio Berlusconi's hand in September 2022. Gregorio Borgia / AP
"A great man and a great Italian - farewell Silvio"
Condolences have been pouring in from the top echelons of Italian politics since the death of longtime Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini immediately canceled his commitments and called for a minute's silence during his visit to the municipality of Novara in northwestern Italy.
- A great man and a great Italian, says Salvini according to Corriere Della Serra.
A political leader who not only influenced the direction of the country, but also the lives of all Italians, comments former Prime Minister Romano Prodi.
Defense Minister Gudio Crosetto also mourns the death. For the Italian newspaper La Repubblica, Crosetto describes it as an era now coming to an end.
“I loved him very much. Goodbye Silvio.”
Berlusconi also played a big role for Italian football. He was Milan's owner between 1986 and 2017. "A brilliant friend to whom I owe everything," says former Milan coach Arrigo Sacchi between tears.
Silvio Berlusconi. Gregorio Borgia / AP '
Silvio Berlusconi is dead - was treated for leukemia
Italy's former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi is dead, Italian media say.
86-year-old Berlusconi died on Monday morning, after being admitted to the Sankt Raffaele hospital in Milan since Friday.
According to Reuters, Berlusconi was taken to the hospital for scheduled checks linked to his chronic leukemia and then doctors decided he would stay overnight.
Berlusconi led three Italian governments between 1994 and 2011 and his Forza Italia party is in the current coalition government.
He was a controversial politician, businessman and media mogul who reshaped Italy's political landscape.
Silvio Berlusconi. Image from 2001. FRANCESCO PROIETTI / AP
"Berlusconi shaped the image of Italy for decades"
Italy's former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was a man who could bring together business and public activity like no other, writes the BBC in its rune.
Four times he was prime minister and each time it seemed as if his political career was over - yet each time he managed to come back. Nine years after he was banned from public office for tax fraud, he was back, elected to Italy's Senate shortly before his 86th birthday last September.
"Berlusconi was a media mogul, owner of a football club and a billionaire businessman who never gave up on politics - and helped shape the image of Italy for decades," writes the newspaper.
The scandals that surrounded the 86-year-old became as much a part of the Berlusconi legend as his work in politics, media and sports, writes AFP. He often portrayed himself as an innocent victim of leftist judges with a political agenda.
SVT's Italy correspondent Jennifer Wegerup tells her own TV channel that he was both very disliked and very well liked.
- In Sweden, there is an image of him as a prankster, but he was also extremely popular with large crowds.
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