Silvio Berlusconi dead: The media mogul-turned-prime minister left behind an enduring political legacy that affects Italy more than a decade later
Mired in a sex scandal, Silvio Berlusconi held a dinner party at a posh Rome hotel in 2010 to charm reporters – but struggled to play it straight: “You’re all invited to the bunga bunga!” he told us defiantly. Then the impish smile. “But you’d be disappointed.”
When it came to entertainment, Berlusconi – the media mogul-turned-prime minister, his hair slicked back and face orange from a fake tan – rarely disappointed. When it came to governing, he disappointed many parts of his country.
Yet upon leaving office a year after that dinner, never to return to power, the Milanese magnate left behind an enduring political legacy – and leadership vacuum – that affects Italy more than a decade later.
Over the course of his life and political career, Berlusconi, who died on Monday at the age of 86, was many things: a cruise-ship crooner, a media entrepreneur, Italy’s richest man, and its longest-serving postwar leader.
Pic: AP
Berlusconi lifts the trophy after AC Milan defeated Liverpool in the Champions League final Athens in 2007
Above all, he was a larger-than-life figure who polarised modern Italian society and politics like few before him. He summed it up himself once when he said: “50% of Italians hate me, 50% love me”.
He revolutionised Italian politics and went on to dominate it for 20 years. A conservative prime minister, he pioneered a brand of populism that took hold in other countries long after he had lost power, using wealth, fame and fierce rhetoric to gain power, much as Donald Trump was to do years later.
Berlusconi lived an unapologetically lavish life. In AC Milan, he once owned one of Europe’s most successful football teams. He used his media empire to hobnob with celebs and sustain his political career. Twice divorced, he was often seen with women decades younger than him.
“The majority of Italians in their hearts would love to be like me and see themselves in me and in how I behave,” he once said.
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Topless protester confronts Berlusconi in 2018
‘Unfit to lead’?
Berlusconi took advantage of the vacuum created by the corruption scandals of the early 1990s, which wiped out an entire generation of politicians, to launch his political career.
His critics said he wanted to save his business interests, which had been protected by politicians who were now disgraced and had lost power.
They saw him as a threat to democracy, a dangerous man who amassed unparalleled political and media power for a Western country.
Berlusconi was said to be furious at this cover of The Economist. Pic: AP
The Economist famously deemed him “unfit” to lead the country, infuriating Berlusconi when he was trying to burnish his international credentials.
He called himself the “chosen one” to come to Italy’s rescue and save it from communists.
And he elicited worship among his admirers, who loved his can-do attitude, plain-speaking and break with the traditional political establishment.
Berlusconi and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Pic: AP
A young Berlusconi singing on a cruise ship
Longest-serving prime minister
In a country that traditionally distrusts its political class, he was an outsider who promised Italians a dream, or “a new economic miracle”, as his early electoral slogan put it.
Over and over, Italians believed him: he was prime minister for nine years over four stints between 1994 and 2011 – longer than anybody since World War II.
In his prime, the perennially tanned Berlusconi – who in old age was surgically enhanced and had thicker hair thanks to a transplant – was a formidable and charismatic campaigner who defied the odds to keep coming back to power.
Berlusconi said his success in life was down to three things: “work, work and work”.
But he was also a crowd-pleaser who loved a joke and a party, did not shy away from the occasional singing at discos, and often boasted of his success with women.
Eventually he resigned in shame in 2011, weakened by the “bunga bunga” scandals and amid Europe’s debt crisis.
In between those turbulent years, there were plenty of gaffes, sexist comments and racist remarks.
Berlusconi and then-German chancellor Angela Merkel, with then-Ukrainian prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko
Berlusconi with Barack and Michelle Obama during a G20 summit in 2009
He described a newly elected Barack Obama as “young, handsome and tanned”; was reported to have used a vulgar term to describe Angela Merkel as sexually unattractive – and once at an EU summit kept her waiting while he was on the phone; likened a German politician to a Nazi concentration camp guard; said it is “better to be fond of beautiful girls than to be gay”.
Berlusconi famously sported a bandana to welcome Tony and Cherie Blair to Sardinia in 2004. Pic: AP
Former US president George W Bush with Berlusconi at his ranch in Texas in 2003. Pic: AP
Berlusconi took controversial decisions, first and foremost going to war in Iraq in 2003 alongside George W Bush and Tony Blair, a move the majority of Italians opposed.
He played host to Muammar Gaddafi and his entourage, and was a close ally and friend of Vladimir Putin, hosting him in his Sardinian villa.
Berlusconi greets then-Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. Pic: AP
Even after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, he struggled to distance himself from Putin, saying there would be no war if Volodymyr Zelenskyy had “stopped attacking the two independent republics of the Donbas” and adding that he judged the Ukrainian leader “very very negatively” and would not meet with him if he were still the Italian prime minister.
Berlusconi and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Pic: AP
Mr Putin (L) and Berlusconi in Russia in 2003. Pic: AP
Legal cases
For years, Berlusconi managed to survive scandals that would have ended the career of many a politician – conflict-of-interest accusations, claims of corruption, even criminal trials.
He was convicted for tax fraud; and later of paying a minor for sex and abuse of power as part of the sex scandal – a conviction that was subsequently overturned.
He was even expelled from parliament and barred from public office, but the ban was lifted in 2018.
Throughout, he denied any wrongdoing, saying he was the victim of a political vendetta by left-leaning magistrates.
Berlusconi repeatedly made laws to protect himself and his business empire. But he shrugged off all controversy.
“All citizens are equal before the law, but maybe I am a little more equal than the others since I’ve received the mandate to govern the country,” he said, with an Orwellian twist, during a court appearance at one of his trials in Milan in 2003.
Berlusconi in 2004 with his then-wife Veronica Lario. Pic: AP
‘Bunga bunga’ parties
Ultimately, he engulfed Italy in a lurid scandal of sex and late-night “bunga bunga” parties that brought incalculable damage to the international reputation of the country and ridicule across the globe.
Between 2009 and 2010, when he was prime minister, Italian newspapers were filled with tawdry details of parties featuring scores of young women.
It started with revelations he had attended the birthday party of an 18-year-old who called him “Daddy”; it continued with tales of high-end escorts, accusations of underage girls being paid for sex; and of young women dressed as “sexy Santas” or pole-dancing for Berlusconi and his friends.
Karima el-Mahroug, also known as Ruby, was at the centre of Berlusconi’s sex scandals. Pic: AP
In one famous case, a 17-year-old Moroccan girl nicknamed Ruby Rubacuori (or “Ruby the Heart-Stealer”) was released from police custody after Berlusconi intervened with authorities – with his allies telling parliament that she was believed to be the niece of the late Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak.
Berlusconi has always maintained the “bunga bunga” parties were simply “elegant soirees” where nothing unsavoury went on.
“The parties were elegant and proper, the rooms were filled with guests and waiters”, he told journalists gathered at the hotel in Rome on a warm April night in 2010.
“We could even have shot the whole thing on camera, there was nothing to hide”.
Pic: AP
One more comeback?
In the latter years of his life, Berlusconi was set back by a series of health issues, including open heart surgery in 2016, when he was 79.
He contracted COVID during the pandemic and became seriously ill.
He later described the illness as the “worst experience of my life”, and urged Italians to wear masks and maintain social distancing.
Berlusconi tried one more comeback in 2022, making an unlikely, and ultimately unsuccessful, attempt to become president. While the role is largely ceremonial, the president is seen as a figure of high moral standing who stays above the political fray.
But he did win a Senate seat at last year’s election, returning to parliament for the first time in almost a decade, with his Forza Italia party becoming part of the governing coalition supporting Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Berlusconi poses with then-US president Barack Obama and then-Russian president Dmitry Medvedev
Legacy
In many of his views and remarks, Berlusconi sounded like a dinosaur.
Yet he was in a way ahead of his time: a Trumpist tycoon who offended his way to success, who considered self-interest to be the national interest, and who employed charisma and TV marketing to shatter the norms of politics, and disorient his opponents.
Whether Berlusconi is remembered for his success or for greed; whether for charm or vanity; whether for ending the old corruption or just making it his own, he left an indelible mark on the Italian story.
World
Zelenskyy’s offer to meet Putin raises the stakes in this already high-stakes game of diplomacy
Diplomacy over Ukraine has become even more of a game of high-stakes poker.
In the early hours of Sunday, Vladimir Putin played his hand, rejecting demands for a ceasefire and proposing direct talks in Istanbul instead.
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That was in response to the opening gambit made on Saturday by Ukraine and its European allies.
Sir Keir Starmer, Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Emmanuel Macron among world leaders in Kyiv. Pic: AP
Britain’s Sir Keir Starmer said they were “calling Putin out”, that if he was really serious about peace, he should agree to a 30-day unconditional ceasefire starting on Monday.
And they thought they had Donald Trump’s backing until he made his move.
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Kremlin: ‘We don’t share Starmer’s view’
Late Sunday, he drove a cart and horses through claims of western unity, coming down on Putin’s side.
Ukraine, he said, should submit to the Russian leader’s suggestion of talks.
“Ukraine should agree to this – immediately”, he posted. Then: “I’m starting to doubt that Ukraine will make a deal with Putin…”
So much for the Coalition of the Willing having Putin where they wanted him.
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Are Putin’s call for peace talks genuine?
Trump let him off the hook.
All eyes were then on President Zelenskyy, who has now in turn dramatically raised the stakes.
He will go to Istanbul, he said, and wait there for Vladimir Putin.
Over to you, Vladimir.
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The fast-paced diplomacy aside, the last twenty-four hours have brought Europe closer to a moment of truth.
They thought they had Donald Trump’s support, and yet even with 30 nations demanding an unconditional ceasefire, the US president seemed, in the end, to side with the Russian leader.
He has helped Putin get out of a hole.
Yet again, Trump could not be counted on to pressure Vladimir Putin to end this war.
If America is no longer a reliable partner over Ukraine, Europe may need to go it alone, whatever the cost.
It has been an extraordinary few hours which may well set the tone for a hugely consequential week ahead.
In the time that it took me to fly from London to Saudi Arabia, where President Donald Trump will begin a pivotal Middle East tour this week, a flurry of news has emerged on a range of key global challenges.
• On the Gaza war: The Trump administration has confirmed it’s holding talks with Hamas, which says it will release a hostage amid renewed hopes of a ceasefire.
• On the Ukraine war: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he is prepared to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Istanbul – this announcement came minutes after Trump urged Zelenskyy to agree to the meeting.
• On the China-US trade war: The White House says the two countries have agreed to a “trade deal”. China said the talks, in Geneva, were “candid, in-depth and constructive”.
All three of these developments represent dramatic shifts in three separate challenges and hint at the remarkable influence the US president is having globally.
This sets the ground for what could be a truly consequential week for Trump’s presidency and his ability to effect change.
With his unique style, Trump is seeking to align numerous stars as he embarks on his first foreign diplomatic trip of his second presidency.
For days, it’s been unclear how the week ahead would unfold and which global challenge would be dominant.
The Saudi government has been instrumental as a broker in the Ukraine-Russia conflict and Qatar has been a mediator in the Gaza war.
Trump will visit both countries this week.
President Donald Trump on Air Force One earlier this month. File pic: AP
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Putin under pressure?
On Ukraine, Putin held a late-night news conference at the Kremlin on Saturday at which he made the surprise proposal of talks with Zelenskyy in Istanbul this Thursday.
But he rejected European and US calls for an immediate ceasefire.
The move was widely interpreted as a delay tactic.
Trump then issued a social media post urging Zelenskyy to accept the Russian proposal; effectively to call Putin’s bluff.
The American president wrote: “President Putin of Russia doesn’t want to have a Cease Fire Agreement with Ukraine, but rather wants to meet on Thursday, in Turkey, to negotiate a possible end to the BLOODBATH. Ukraine should agree to this, IMMEDIATELY. At least they will be able to determine whether or not a deal is possible, and if it is not, European leaders, and the U.S., will know where everything stands, and can proceed accordingly! I’m starting to doubt that Ukraine will make a deal with Putin, who’s too busy celebrating the Victory of World War ll, which could not have been won (not even close!) without the United States of America. HAVE THE MEETING, NOW!!!”
Within minutes, Zelenskyy responded, agreeing to the talks.
“We await a full and lasting ceasefire, starting from tomorrow, to provide the necessary basis for diplomacy. There is no point in prolonging the killings. And I will be waiting for Putin in Türkiye on Thursday. Personally. I hope that this time the Russians will not look for excuses,” Zelenskyy wrote on X.
The prospect of Putin and Zelenskyy together in Istanbul on Thursday is remarkable.
It raises the possibility that Trump would want to be there too.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomes other world leaders to Kyiv. Pic: Presidential Office of Ukraine/dpa/AP Images
Israel’s war in Gaza
On Gaza, it’s been announced that US envoy Steve Witkoff will arrive in Israel on Monday to finalise details for the release of Idan Alexander, an Israeli-American hostage being held by Hamas.
The development comes after it was confirmed that Mr Witkoff has been holding discussions with Israel, Qatar and Egypt and, through them, with Hamas.
The talks focused on a possible Gaza hostage deal and larger peace discussions for a ceasefire.
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Gaza after around a year and a half of Israeli attacks. Pic: Reuters/Mahmoud Issa
Just days ago, Israel announced a new military plan to move back into Gaza.
When do candid talks become a trade deal?
Meanwhile, officials from the United States and China have been holding talks in Geneva, Switzerland, to resolve their trade war, which was instigated by Trump’s tariffs against China.
Late on Sunday evening, the White House released a statement claiming that a trade deal had been struck.
In a written statement, titled “U.S. Announces China Trade Deal in Geneva”, treasury secretary Scott Bessent said: “I’m happy to report that we made substantial progress between the United States and China in the very important trade talks… We will be giving details tomorrow, but I can tell you that the talks were productive. We had the vice premier, two vice ministers, who were integrally involved, Ambassador Jamieson, and myself. And I spoke to President Trump, as did Ambassador Jamieson, last night, and he is fully informed of what is going on. So, there will be a complete briefing tomorrow morning.”
Beijing Global Times newspaper quoted the Chinese vice premier as saying that the talks were candid, in-depth and constructive.
However, the Chinese fell short of calling it a trade deal.
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A Qatari gift
In a separate development, US media reports say that Qatar is preparing to gift Trump a Boeing 747 from its royal fleet, which he would use as a replacement for the existing and aging Air Force One plane.
The Qatari government says no deal has been finalised, but the development is already causing controversy because of the optics of accepting gifts of this value.
A Kurdish militant group has announced it is to disband and disarm as part of a peace initiative with Turkey after four decades of armed conflict.
The historic decision by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, comes days after it convened a party congress in northern Iraq.
Beyond just relations with Turkey, the development could have far-reaching political and security consequences for the region, including in neighbouring Syria where Kurdish forces are allied with the US military in the fight against Islamic State.
More than 40,000 people have been killed in the conflict since the PKK launched its insurgency in 1984 in the hope of carving out a homeland for the Kurds, in an area straddling the borders of southeastern Turkey, northern Syria and Iraq, and part of Iran.
A flag showing the face of Abdullah Ocalan at a gathering in Istanbul in March. Pic: Reuters
The PKK is designated a terrorist group by Turkey and many of its Western allies.
A spokesperson for Turkey’s ruling AK Party said the PKK’s decision to disband was an important step towards a “terror-free Turkey” and it would be closing monitoring the dissolution process.
end of PKK opens gateways for resolving a conflict that has lasted for 40 years
The announcement that the PKK will lay down its arms is a significant development and could see the end of an uprising that has claimed thousands of lives.
The PKK has been in armed conflict with the Turkish state since 1984.
The move to disband and disarm follows a call from the group’s leader, Abdullah Ocalan.
He founded the PKK in 1978 – initially, the aim was to secure a Kurdish state, but over the years, the objective shifted towards gaining greater political and cultural rights.
This latest development comes after Ocalan called for a ceasefire in February.
The group says it has now achieved its objectives, and armed struggle is no longer the way forward. Instead, it will pursue its goals through democratic channels.
There are a number of reasons why all this is happening now.
The PKK has been battered by the Turkish military in recent years, and geopolitical changes in Iraq and Syria have made the organisation’s operations more difficult.
For Turkey, it is a win as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan can boast he’s done what his predecessors have failed to do – he can also appeal for support from Kurdish politicians in Turkey to help in his bid for a new term in 2028.
At present, that is a constitutional impossibility.
There are still many questions about how the group will disband and disarm, though: What happens to the fighters and what happens to the weapons?
Questions, too, about the future of Abdullah Ocalan – there are reports that under a deal, he may be paroled. He is currently serving a life sentence.
Unravelling the PKK will undoubtedly be a complex process, but the end of the group opens gateways for resolving a conflict that has lasted for 40 years.
The Firat news agency published what it said was the closing declaration of a congress that the PKK held last week in
northern Iraq, in response to a call in February from its jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan to disband.
The congress “decided to dissolve the PKK’s organisational structure and the end armed struggle, with the practical implementation of this process to be led and overseen by (Ocalan),” the agency reported.
“As a result, activities carried out under the name ‘PKK’ were formally terminated.”
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In other Turkey news: Lawyer disputes claims against Erdogan rival
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The congress assessed that the PKK’s struggle had “brought the Kurdish issue to the point of resolution through democratic politics, thus completing its historical mission”.
It was not immediately clear what was meant by having completed the “historical mission”.
Earlier this year, the PKK declared a ceasefire “to pave the way for… peace and democratic society” but attached conditions, including the creation of a legal framework for peace negotiations.
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