levied at him, managed to keep coming back. the list of trials that silvio berlusconi faced was huge. he spent many, many. huge amount of time in court and only one of these cases, which the charges ranged from tax fraud to bribery to sex scandals, only one of these cases stuck. in 2013 he was convicted on corruption charges, sentenced to prison but he didn t serve prison time because of his age, so he did service in a community care centre for the. service in a community care centre forthe. in milan. so he service in a community care centre for the. in milan. so he was the extraordinary comeback king. it was interesting that even in recent weeks when we know he had been very ill, in april he spent 45 days in
by allegations of corruption. live now to our correspondent, bethany bell, in rome. bethany, it cannot be understated how important, how influential silvio berlusconi has been on italian politics. fix, silvio berlusconi has been on italian politics. silvio berlusconi has been on italian politics. a huge figure. this is what italian politics. a huge figure. this is what is italian politics. a huge figure. this is what is really - italian politics. a huge figure. this is what is really coming l this is what is really coming through in the tributes that have been flooding in for him. we heard just now from giorgia meloni, italy s current prime minister, that even his political rivals like the former italian prime minister matteo renzi saying many people love to silvio berlusconi, many hated him, but his impact on italy s political, economic and television life,
his forza italia party is part of the current prime minister giorgia meloni s right wing coalition. she has paid this tribute to his single minded vision and strength. translation: silvio berlusconi was above all a fighter. translation: silvio berlusconi was above all a fighter. he translation: silvio berlusconi was above all a fighter. he was - translation: silvio berlusconi was above all a fighter. he was a - translation: silvio berlusconi was above all a fighter. he was a man i above all a fighter. he was a man who was never afraid to defend his convictions, and it was precisely that courage and determination that made him one of the most influential men in the history of italy, that allowed him to make real breakthroughs in the world of politics, communication and business. with him, italy learned it should never let limits be imposed on it, that it should never give up. with him, we thought, won and lost many battles. and for him too we will bring home the goals we set togethe
in 2009, a man smashed a model of milan cathedral into his face, but none of it stopped his love of partying and the allegations about his sex life. berlusconi and a 17 year old model both denied he paid herfor sex. the scandal generated three separate trials, the last resulting in an acquittal earlier this year. but the perception of sleaze was damaging. translation: and ifi sometimes see a beautiful girl, i say better to like girls than to be gay. last year, his final political comeback, his partyjoining meloni s right wing coalition. despite describing her as bossy and adamant and expressing is admiration for vladimir putin. silvio berlusconi was undoubtedly charismatic. three times italian chose him as their prime minister. but he was always a divisive figure, and for far too long his career was dogged
hospital, including ten days in intensive care. it was still active even during this time. he was very much a figure who kept appealing to his supporters. qm. much a figure who kept appealing to his sweden- much a figure who kept appealing to his summers- his supporters. ok, bethany bell, thank yom let s cross live to milan. this is the scene of the raffaele hospital in milan in northern italy where silvio berlusconi was taken to be treated for a lung infection and leukaemia. he has been unwell for some time, but that is where he passed away earlier at the age of 86. we will as always bring you more on this story as and when we get it. if you want to read more about silvio berlusconi s life and times and why he is so important to the world of italian politics, you can go to our live page on the bbc website with all the very latest, including some interesting stories