Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has been reported to be in a stable condition in the ICU after being diagnosed with leukaemia. The 84-year-old politician was admitted to a hospital in Milan on April 6th, 2021, after experiencing heart problems. He was then discovered to have a low white-blood-cell count, leading to further tests and the diagnosis of cancer. Berlusconi has been a dominant figure in Italian politics for decades and this news has sparked worries and concerns for his health, as well as the implications for the country’s political landscape.
Silvio Berlusconi, the former Prime Minister of Italy, has been admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of a hospital in Milan. According to reports, the 84-year-old has been diagnosed with both a lung infection and leukaemia, a type of blood cancer.
Berlusconi’s health has been a concern for some time now, as he has suffered from various medical conditions in recent years. In 2016, he underwent heart surgery, and in 2018, he was hospitalized for a kidney problem.
While Berlusconi’s condition is said to be stable, he is being closely monitored by doctors at San Raffaele hospital in Milan. The hospital’s spokesperson said in a statement that “Berlusconi is in good spirits and communicates with his family.”
Berlusconi, who is known for his flamboyant and controversial personality, dominated Italian politics for more than two decades. He served as Prime Minister for three separate terms, first from 1994 to 1995, then from 2001 to 2006, and finally from 2008 to 2011.
Despite facing numerous legal challenges and scandals during his time in office, Berlusconi remains a popular figure in Italy, especially among older voters. He is the founder of the center-right Forza Italia party, which currently sits in the opposition in the Italian parliament.
News of Berlusconi’s hospitalization has prompted an outpouring of support from across the Italian political spectrum. Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi wished Berlusconi a “speedy recovery,” while Matteo Salvini, the leader of the right-wing League party, visited him in the hospital.
Berlusconi’s illness comes at a time when Italy is still grappling with the Covid-19 pandemic, which has hit the country hard over the past year. The Italian government has imposed strict lockdown measures in an effort to curb the spread of the virus, but the country has still recorded more than 113,000 deaths since the pandemic began.
The news of Berlusconi’s health problems has also sparked speculation about the future of Forza Italia, which has struggled to find a new leader since Berlusconi stepped down in 2018. Some commentators have suggested that Berlusconi’s illness could prompt him to return to politics in some capacity, while others believe it could lead to the party’s decline.
Regardless of what happens next, Berlusconi’s hospitalization is a reminder of the enduring influence he has had on Italian politics and society. Despite his controversial legacy, many Italians still regard him as a larger-than-life figure who brought a sense of excitement and glamour to Italian politics.
