End of an Era: Silvio Berlusconi's Legacy as PM and AC Milan Owner Comes to a Close at 86

Silvio Berlusconi, the former Italian prime minister and owner of AC Milan, passed away at the age of 86. According to Italian news agency LaPresse, Berlusconi was admitted to the hospital on Friday for the second time in a few months to receive treatment for chronic leukaemia.

Under Berlusconi's ownership from 1986 to 2017, AC Milan achieved remarkable success, claiming three Champions League titles, eight Serie A championships, and a Coppa Italia. Although Berlusconi sold the club to a group led by Yonghong Li, he quickly returned to the football scene with Monza, a club that earned its first-ever promotion to Serie A in 2021.

Berlusconi's tenure as Italy's prime minister was marred by numerous scandals, including allegations of corruption and his notorious "bunga bunga" parties. Despite these controversies, he was the longest-serving prime minister in Italian history, having first entered politics in 1994 after building Italy's largest commercial TV network. With his passing, the country bids farewell to one of its most colorful and controversial political figures.

of the crime, but the scandal tarnished his reputation and led to his resignation in November 2011. Despite this, Berlusconi remained a prominent figure in Italian politics and continued to lead his political party, Forza Italia.

Amidst several scandals, Berlusconi stepped down as Italy's prime minister for the last time in 2011, as the country was on the brink of a Greece-style debt crisis. Despite his brash and ebullient personality, Berlusconi served as Italy's leader three times, from 1994-1995, 2001-2006, and 2008-2011.

After being convicted of tax fraud related to his media empire, he was banned from public office a decade ago. However, in 2018, the ban was lifted. He made his return to the Italian Senate after last year's national election.

He caused controversy in the previous year by making remarks about Russian President Vladimir Putin. He claimed that they exchanged birthday greetings and pointed the finger at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for the ongoing conflict.