- Silvio Berlusconi, Italy’s longest-serving postwar prime minister, has died at 86.
- Berlusconi was known for his big personality, vast wealth, and a powerful media empire.
- He brought a breath of fresh air to corruption-plagued politics but later descended into an entrenched war.
- He was often a target of ridicule abroad for his ribald jokes, sex scandals, and overlapping political and business interests.
- Berlusconi's political vision embraced liberal as well as populist views.
Silvio Berlusconi, Ex-Italian Prime Minister and Media Magnate, Dies at 86
His outsize personality, wealth and news platform helped him control the conservative wing, but subsequent legal and sex scandals eroded his standing