Silvio Berlusconi

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Silvio Berlusconi

Silvio Berlusconi

Silvio Berlusconi

Silvio Berlusconi has been Italy’s prime minister three times, making him the country’s longest-serving post-war premier. His leadership was undermined by sex scandals, and by the growing Euro zone sovereign debt crisis, and Berlusconi resigned as prime minister in November 2011, but mounted a comeback in late 2012.

Born

29 Sep 1936

Industry

Politics

Job Title

Politician

Tesla CEO Elon Musk speaks on stage as he joins Donald Trump on the campaign trail in Butler, Pennsylvania, on October 5, 2024. Photo: AFP

As I see it | How Fukuyama goes from the end of history to the end of the West

China’s ruling model may be the only remedy for what the political writer argues is the erosion of free speech and free elections by media-controlling plutocrats.

11 Oct 2025 - 9:30AMvideocam

Fame and celebrity

Meet Flavio Briatore – F1 mogul and the man dubbed ‘Italy’s Donald Trump’

13 Jan 2025 - 8:15PM

China-EU relations

Italian PM Meloni likely to visit China this month amid cautious diplomacy

4 Jul 2024 - 4:24PMvideocam

Millionaires and billionaires

How Silvio Berlusconi’s son Luigi makes and spends his millions

Luigi Berlusconi inherited 15.6 per cent of his dad’s investment arm Fininvest, along with several villas and homes in Italy, France and Antigua

14 Feb 2024 - 10:56AM

Luigi Berlusconi (centre left), Silvio Berlusconi’s son, sits on boards and is worth an estimated US$1 billion. Photo: Getty Images

Italy PM Meloni splits from partner after his sexist TV comments

The television journalist was widely criticised for apparent victim-blaming comments following a gang rape case, and appeared to make advances to a female colleague as well as boasting of an affair.

20 Oct 2023 - 8:25PM

Napolitano, president who led Italy through Europe’s debt crisis, dies at 98

Some credit the leader, affectionately known as ‘King George’, with saving the country from financial ruin, while critics said he overstepped his bounds.

23 Sep 2023 - 3:14AM

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Italy’s ex-PM Berlusconi given state funeral in city he made his billions

Tens of thousands of people outside the Duomo and within erupted in applause as a sign of respect as Berlusconi’s flower-draped casket was hoisted out of the hearse and into the cathedral.

14 Jun 2023 - 11:09PM

Pallbearers carry the coffin of former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi during his funeral at the Duomo Cathedral, in Milan, Italy. Photo: Reuters

Italy’s media mogul and ex-PM Silvio Berlusconi, 86, dies

The four-time prime minister was a media mogul and political showman whose financial and sexual scandals made him the most polarising figure in modern Italy

12 Jun 2023 - 5:47PMvideocam

Italy’s Berlusconi in hospital for routine check-up

The 86-year-old billionaire media mogul is hospitalised for scheduled checks related to his blood cancer, doctors say.

9 Jun 2023 - 11:35PM

Italy’s Silvio Berlusconi in hospital with leukaemia

The 86-year-old former prime minister had heart surgery in 2016, has also had prostate cancer, and has been repeatedly admitted to hospital since contracting Covid-19 in 2020.

6 Apr 2023 - 8:36PMvideocam

Former Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconii, 86, is being treated for leukaemia. Photo: AP

Italy’s Berlusconi acquitted in ‘bunga bunga’ bribery case

The former prime minster was accused of paying 24 people to provide false testimony in a trial where he was charged with paying for sex with 17-year-old Moroccan nightclub dancer.

16 Feb 2023 - 2:02AM

Forza Italia leader Silvio Berlusconi speaks has been acquitted of bribing witnesses. Photo: AFP

Italy PM Meloni triumphs in regional elections, strengthens grip on power

The victory by the prime minister’s right-wing coalition cements her position nearly 4 months after she took office.

14 Feb 2023 - 6:41AM

Italy court acquits former PM Silvio Berlusconi in prostitution bribery case

Berlusconi was charged with paying an Italian singer US$162,000 to lie in a previous trial where he was accused of paying to have sex with a 17-year-old dancer.

18 Nov 2022 - 5:00AM

Italy’s far-right leader Meloni visits EU: ‘We are not Martians’

The premier used her trip to Brussels to declare that her country would be a force to reckon with in the bloc’s affairs.

4 Nov 2022 - 4:34AM

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (left) and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen shake hands at the EU Commission headquarters in Brussels on Thursday. Photo: Reuters

Italy’s far-right leader Giorgia Meloni sworn in as premier

The country’s first female prime minister recited the ritual oath of office, pledging to be faithful to Italy’s post-war republic and to act ‘in the exclusive interests of the nation’.

22 Oct 2022 - 5:26PM

Italy’s new Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at the Presidential Palace on the day of the government’s swearing-in ceremony in Rome. Photo: Reuters

Far-right leader Giorgia Meloni named Italy’s first woman PM

Her anti-immigration Brothers of Italy party won the September polls but needs outside support to form a government.

22 Oct 2022 - 4:11AM

Italy’s Berlusconi says he exchanged ‘sweet letters’ with Putin

Italy’s Silvio Berlusconi said Russian President Vladimir Putin sent him 20 bottles of vodka and a ‘very sweet letter’ for his birthday.

19 Oct 2022 - 11:19AM

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‘Still got it’: Almost 86, Italy’s Berlusconi makes a comeback

Former Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi is making his return to Italy’s parliament, winning a seat in the Senate nearly a decade after being banned from holding public office over a tax fraud conviction.

27 Sep 2022 - 3:52PM

Silvio Berlusconi. Photo: Reuters

Giorgia Meloni eyes power as far-right triumphs in Italy elections

Far-right leader Giorgia Meloni said she was ready to govern for ‘all Italians’ after her Eurosceptic populists swept to victory in general elections.

26 Sep 2022 - 3:27PM

On eve of election, Italy braces for potential far-right win

Vote comes as Italy battles series of crises, from rampant inflation and extreme weather events to energy crisis aggravated by war in Ukraine.

24 Sep 2022 - 11:40PM

This one-time Mussolini supporter could become Italy’s first woman PM

Giorgia Meloni has been called a fascist, an extremist and – to an extent – a de facto heir to 20th century dictator Benito Mussolini. She also seems well on her way to becoming Italy’s next prime minister.

23 Sep 2022 - 12:16PM

Giorgia Meloni’s eurosceptic Brothers of Italy was leading the last polls published two weeks before election day Sunday. Photo: AP

In or out? Asks Italy’s PM Mario Draghi as he awaits his fate

He wanted to resign because he didn’t have the backing of parties in his coalition, which are unhappy about his reference to fiscal reform, freeing up beach concessions and his pledge of military aid to Ukraine.

20 Jul 2022 - 11:41PM

Italian Premier Mario Draghi at the Senate in Rome on Wednesday, July 20. Photo: AP

Italy’s President Sergio Mattarella set for second term

Mattarella, 80, had ruled out remaining in office, but agreed after parties failed to find a mutually acceptable alternative candidate in a week of fraught voting in parliament.

30 Jan 2022 - 3:01AM

Silvio Berlusconi pulls out of Italy’s presidential race

The 85-year-old billionaire and former premier had been campaigning behind the scenes for weeks to replace outgoing President Sergio Mattarella.

23 Jan 2022 - 9:09AM

Italy’s president opens government talks after PM Conte resigns

The Italian head of state is set to meet the presidents of both parliamentary chambers before talks on Thursday and Friday with party leaders.

27 Jan 2021 - 7:42PM

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte. Photo: dpa

Coronavirus pandemic

Former Italy PM Berlusconi in hospital as Europe 2nd wave fears grow

The 83-year-old flamboyant former prime minister was taken to hospital ‘as a precaution’ according to his aides. More than 35,500 people have died from Covid-19 in Italy.

5 Sep 2020 - 5:58AM

Silvio Berlusconi pictured while prime minister of Italy in 2011. Photo: DPA

Coronavirus pandemic

Italy’s former PM Berlusconi tests positive for coronavirus

Ex-prime minister had no symptoms but decided to take Covid-19 test because of recent holiday in Sardinia, doctor says.

3 Sep 2020 - 5:35AM

Berlusconi splits with 34-year-old girlfriend

The decade-long romantic relationship between Italy's octogenarian former prime minister and Francesca Pascale is over.

5 Mar 2020 - 10:51AM

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