Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has been admitted to a hospital in Milan, as confirmed by his spokesman to CNN. This hospitalization coincides with an upcoming significant meeting of his political party scheduled for Saturday.
After a previous 45-day stay for a lung infection, the 86-year-old leader of the Forza Italia party was released from his last hospital stint on May 19. However, he has now returned to San Raffaele hospital in Milan for scheduled examinations related to his known hematological pathology.
Berlusconi’s medical history includes a diagnosis of leukemia and previous hospitalization in April due to breathing problems. While his cancer is not currently acute and he has carried the disease for some time, routine checkups are necessary.
Berlusconi’s Political Career and Return
Silvio Berlusconi, a controversial media tycoon, has served three terms as Italy’s prime minister, with his most recent tenure from 2008 to 2011. However, following a conviction for tax fraud, he was banned from politics for six years. In 2022, he made a comeback to frontline politics by winning a seat in Italy’s Senate, representing the northern municipality of Monza.
Previous Health Concerns
In 2021, Berlusconi was hospitalized for the symptoms of long COVID-19, as reported by his Forza Italia party’s press office. He also spent time in the hospital the previous year after contracting the coronavirus. Additionally, he has undergone various health treatments, including a 2016 heart surgery to replace an aortic valve.