Silvio Berlusconi dead: Scandal-hit former Italian PM infamous for Bunga Bunga bashes dies aged 86 after hospital dash

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

The scandal-hit billionaire media mogul - famous for his notorious "bunga bunga" parties - was dashed to Milan's San Raffaele Hospital on Friday.

He had been suffering from leukaemia "for some time" and recently developed a lung infection.

The flamboyant Forza Italia leader was admitted to hospital last week for what his aides said were pre-planned tests related to his illness.

But it came just three weeks after he was discharged following a six-week stay at the same hospital - during which time doctors found he had a rare type of blood cancer and he underwent intensive therapy.

Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said Berlusconi's death leaves a "huge void".

"I loved him very much. Farewell Silvio," Crosetto said.

Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini described him as "a great man and a great Italian" and thanked him for his "friendship", "advice" and "generosity".

Roberto Metsola, president of the European Parliament, said "he has left his mark and will not be forgotten".

Viktor Orban, the Hungarian prime minister, said: "Gone is the great fighter. Rest in peace, my friend."

There has been no official confirmation of his cause of death.

He will have a state funeral in Milan's cathedral on June 14, the local diocese said.

Berlusconi built a grand Pharaoh-inspired marble mausoleum at his villa in Arcore, near Milan, for his family and friends when they die.

His death follows a series of health scares in recent years.

Despite being re-elected to the Senate last year, he was rarely seen in public.

Back in April, Berlusconi reportedly spent four days at the same Milan hospital for heart problems.

The politician shared a tweet at the time thanking people for their concern alongside a snap of him smiling at home.

"I have already returned to work on the main themes of these days, ready and determined to commit myself, as I always have, to the country I love," he wrote.

And he was hospitalised for Covid-related pneumonia in September 2020 and admitted for complications stemming from the virus in the following year.

He was forced to undergo open heart surgery in 2016 and surgery on his intestine three years later.

The four-time prime minister, who was fitted with a pacemaker, also overcame prostate cancer.

But his time in office wasn't without controversy, as the party-loving former leader was well known for his sex scandals and eyebrow-raising jokes.

Berlusconi - who was in a relationship with Forza Italia MP Marta Fascina, 33 - held lavish "bunga bunga" bashes at his villa.

PLAYBOY PM

He was accused, but later acquitted, of paying young women for "silence and lies" surrounding the infamous gatherings, which he always insisted were simply elegant dinners.

But guests claimed they were in fact wild sex parties with "orgies", where women stripped and performed "raunchy pole dances".

The ex-PM, who previously described himself as the "Jesus Christ of politics", also landed himself in hot water in 2010.

It was alleged that the lothario had abused his position of power to protect a young Moroccan nightclub dancer who was arrested.

Police detained Karima El-Mahroug, known by her stage name 'Ruby the Heart Stealer', for theft - but she was released after Berlusconi claimed she was the niece of then Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

He was charged with paying her for sex when she was just 17 and was found guilty, until he was acquitted in 2014.

An appeals court ruled there was no proof he knew El-Mahroug was a minor.

Berlusconi proved old habits died hard after promising his Monza players a "bus full of prostitutes" last year if they beat AC Milan or Juventus.

The 86-year-old owned AC Milan between 1986 and 2017.

After taking over the team, Milan won three Champions Leagues, eight Serie A titles and a Coppa Italia.

And he also stood resolutely by his old friend Putin - despite his invasion of Ukraine.

"Putin for my birthday sent me 20 bottles of vodka and a very sweet letter," he said in October last year.

"I replied with bottles of Lambrusco and an equally sweet letter."

In 2013, Berlusconi was temporarily banned from politics after a conviction of tax fraud.

He served a community sentence and muscled his way back into the spotlight before being re-elected as a senator in 2022.

The billionaire served as Italy's prime minister on three occasions, from 1994 to 1995, 2001 to 2006, and 2008 to 2011.

He stepped down for the last time in 2011 as Italy came close to a Greece-style debt crisis.

Berlusconi was first married in 1965 to Carla DallOglio, and their two kids, Marina and Piersilvio, hold top positions in his business empire.

He married his second wife, Veronica Lario, in 1990, and they had three children - Barbara, Eleonora and Luigi.