Berlusconi

Silvio Berlusconi (29 September 1936 – 12 June 2023) was an Italian media entrepreneur and politician who served as Prime Minister of Italy in three governments (1994–1995, 2001–2006, 2008–2011). He founded the political party Forza Italia in 1994 and was a leading figure in the center-right coalition for two decades. A native of Milan, Berlusconi built a large business empire through Fininvest, a holding company that controlled broadcasting, publishing, and other sectors. His media group Mediaset became a dominant player in Italian television, and he owned a stake in the football club AC Milan from 1986.

In politics, Berlusconi’s rise coincided with a broader realignment of Italian politics in the 1990s. His governments pursued liberalization of the economy, tax reform, and changes to the public sector, while maintaining a high-profile media presence. His tenure was marked by both electoral success and lengthy political controversy, including legal proceedings that spanned tax, corruption, and personal scandal cases. Some cases resulted in acquittals or were resolved in other ways through the Italian judiciary.

Berlusconi remained a central figure in Italian politics even after his prime ministerships, through his leadership of Forza Italia and alliance with other center-right parties. He died on 12 June 2023 in Milan, leaving a lasting imprint on Italian media and politics. His career illustrated the intersection of media power and political influence in contemporary Italy.