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Ex-Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi dies at 86

Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has died at the age of 86.

• June 12, 2023
Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi( credit: Vanguard News)
Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi( credit: Vanguard News)

Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has died at the age of 86.

Mr Berlusconi died at the San Raffaele Hospital in Milan on Monday.

Italy’s defence minister Guido Crosetto responded to the news by saying Berlusconi’s death left a “huge void,” adding that “an era has come to an end…” 

Mr Crossetto added, “Goodbye, Silvio.” 

In a tweet, Mr Crosetto said he “loved” Mr Berlusconi “very much.”

The former leader was said to be suffering from chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia, a rare kind of blood cancer.

He was also reported to have led the centre-right Forza Italia party, which formed a partnership with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni after he was elected to Italy’s upper house, the Senate.

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