Chronic leukemia – Berlusconi in intensive care

Italy is concerned about the multiple Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. According to his doctors, the 86-year-old has been suffering from blood cancer for some time. Added to this was pneumonia. That is why the right-wing populist politician, who still plays an important role in Italian politics, has been in intensive care in a hospital in Milan since Wednesday. Between 1994 and 2011, Berlusconi served as prime minister four times with interruptions.

The deputy chairman of his Forza Italia party, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, reported on television on Friday that the ex-government had “recovered well” after two nights in the clinic. According to his personal physician, Berlusconi responded positively to the treatment. The doctors who treated him had already confirmed on Thursday that he was in intensive care at the San Raffaele clinic in Milan.

For example, Berlusconi, who is now a member of the Senate, has been suffering from chronic leukemia for some time. So that the consequences of the current pneumonia are not too great, he is treated as an inpatient, the doctors also said. Italian media also reported that Berlusconi had started chemotherapy in the clinic. There was no confirmation of this from the medical side.

The newspaper “Il Giornale” – owned by Berlusconi’s brother Paolo – quoted the 86-year-old on Friday as saying: “It’s tough, but I’ll make it this time too.” According to other media reports, Berlusconi himself called Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Thursday evening. Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini also reported on Twitter about a phone call. “The nicest phone call I could have received,” he wrote. Forza Italia is one of the main parties in the right-wing coalition in Rome.

The former prime minister was hospitalized on Wednesday. Initially, there were cardiovascular and respiratory problems. Political associates and supporters expressed reparations. Meloni wished him “from the bottom of my heart” a speedy recovery.

Berlusconi was only released from the Milan clinic last Thursday after a four-day stay. Officially, there was then routine investigations. He has been in poor health for years. At the end of 2020 he fell ill with Corona and pneumonia. In the years before, he had to be hospitalized because of a urinary tract infection. In 2016, he underwent heart surgery. Berlusconi has also undergone numerous cosmetic surgeries. (sda/dpa)