Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
World
Ryan Fahey

Ex-Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi in hospital just three weeks after chronic leukaemia

Former Italian Prime Minister and infamous Bunga Bunga party host Silvio Berlusconi is back in hospital after being discharged just a few weeks ago.

His admission to the San Raffaele hospital in Milan heaps further speculation on to the severity of his health conditions.

Billionaire media mogul Berlusconi, who was leader of the populist Forza Italia party, had only been out of hospital for around 20 days before his health declined again.

Local media reported that he was accompanied by an escort and is currently in a non-intensive ward, unlike his most-recent visit in which he was admitted in critical condition.

About a month earlier, the politician received his most recent diagnosis - acute leukaemia - which is a cancer of the blood cells that required intensive therapy to correct blood oxygenation, Corriere della Sera reported at the time.

It came after he was admitted to the ward with pneumonia - which is common during induction chemotherapy.

Supporters carrying a banner reading "Go Silvio" stand outside the San Raffaele hospital in Milan where he's being treated for leukaemia (AFP via Getty Images)

Berlusconi is one of Italy's most controversial contemporary leaders and has been in and out of hospitals in recent years.

Berlusconi was prime minister three times between 1994 and 2011, but it was his lavish sex parties that were so infamous.

He coined the term "bunga bunga" to describe the debauched soirees he would throw at his private villa, where young women reportedly stripped for him.

In March, he was acquitted of bribing witnesses to lie about his notorious parties.

In his various court cases, he has maintained his innocence and accused prosecutors of pursuing a political vendetta against him.

As well as his health issues, he has been embroiled in a number of legal cases (MATTEO BAZZI/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

He insisted the parties, described by some as "orgies", were actually elegant dinner parties.

He was also temporarily barred from political office over his conviction for tax fraud. He has had over 20 separate trials, most of them on corruption, embezzlement and bribery charges.

He once referred to former US President Barack Obama as "sun-tanned" and said it was "better" to like girls than be gay.

Last year, it emerged that Russia's tyrant president Vladimir Putin sent his chum Berlusconi a crate of vodka accompanied by a "sweet letter".

He was the leader of the right wing, populist Forza Italia party (AFP/Getty Images)

He also claimed the Russian President had sought to put "decent people " in charge of Ukraine following the invasion earlier this year.

A long-time friend of Putin's, he also said he had been "pushed" into beginning the military action, which has since left thousands of civilians dead.

A new audio recording released by Italian news agency LaPresse suggests the pair have exchanged gifts and letters around the time of his birthday.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.