Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi dies

Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi died on Monday at the San Raffaele Hospital in Milan.

Berlusconi, leader of the Forza Italia political party, and the founder of the Mediaset empire was 86 years old.

The billionaire businessman built Italy's largest media company before transforming the country's political landscape.

He had been suffering from chronic leukemia "for some time" and had recently developed a lung infection.

The former AC Milan owner was hospitalized in Milan on April 5 with a lung infection stemming from the disease.

He previously also suffered from heart ailments, and prostate cancer and was hospitalized for COVID-19 in 2020.

While Berlusconi's party is part of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's right-wing coalition, he himself did not have a role in government.

However, his death is likely to dramatically shift the dynamics of Italian politics in the coming months.

The three-time premier was divisive, with admirers lauding his charisma and force of will, while critics deriding him as a populist wielding political power as a way to enrich himself and his businesses.