Silvio Berlusconi was born on September 29, 1936 in Milan, Italy. Before he became rich through his real estate business, Berlusconi sold vacuum cleaners and sang on cruise ships.
Success on television
Berlusconi launched the cable TV channel Telemilano in 1974. And, despite strict regulation on Italian television, Berlusconi launched a sales network on it.
It was he who introduced the Italian audience to foreign TV shows and the "Veline" shows - half-naked girls who danced or undressed during TV shows or news programs.
Berlusconi now controls three private television networks in Italy. His business empire also includes the Milan football club, a publishing house and numerous magazines.
Political career
In 1993, Berlusconi founded the political party Forza Italia. He took over as prime minister in 1994, but the coalition that brought him to power collapsed after 7 months. Despite this, Berlusconi remained a popular figure, especially with people who believed that his business abilities would have a positive impact on the Italian economy. Thanks to promises of tax cuts and more jobs, Berlusconi re-took the post of prime minister in 2001 and held it until 2006.
Renaming his party the People of Freedom, Berlusconi took over as prime minister for the third time in 2008. He resigned in 2011 when he saw Italy's foreign debt rise amid the Eurozone crisis. Berlusconi remained the leader of his party, making him a powerful figure in 2013 when he supported a coalition with Enrico Letta.
Scandals
Berlusconi brought many girls from the show “Veline” to government positions.
In 2007, Berlusconi told Mara Carfagna that if he were not already married, he would marry her immediately. Hearing this, Berlusconi's wife, Veronica Lario, demanded an official apology from him. And after Berlusconi attended a party in honor of the coming of age of one of the girls in 2009, Lario decided to file for divorce.
But Berlusconi argued that these meetings were nothing more than ordinary feasts.
Criminal charges
Allegations of criminal wrongdoing have dogged Berlusconi since his first days as prime minister. He was accused of embezzlement, tax fraud and bribery. Because of his position, Berlusconi was able to avoid some charges - as prime minister, he approved a law that guaranteed immunity for the prime minister during his term (the law was later repealed). Berlusconi also fought other charges until the statute of limitations expired.
Berlusconi was also found guilty of abuse of power. While on duty, he tried to get el-Mahroug out of prison by telling the police that she was connected to Hosni Mubarak. In addition to the charges brought, Berlusconi was also banned from holding positions in government agencies.
Berlusconi has pleaded not guilty to any charges. He and his supporters believe that he is being persecuted by the party of the left, and therefore he continues to fight all the accusations against him.
Berlusconi will not have to serve a sentence in prison or leave public service while his cases are appealed. Even if his conviction is correct, Berlusconi's age allows him to be kept under house arrest and it is unlikely that he will ever end up in prison.
Berlusconi's contribution to Italy
Berlusconi's success in broadcasting, as well as his long political career, allowed him to change Italian media and politics. In 2013, Forbes magazine estimated his and his family's wealth at $6.2 billion. Considering his influence, he remains a strong leader. He is also a strong political partner of the current coalition in the Italian government. Despite numerous scandals, Berlusconi gives the impression of a man who will still have success in Italy.
Quotes
“I am the Jesus Christ of politics. I am a humble victim, I put up with everyone, I sacrifice myself for others.”
“I don’t need a seat in parliament for power. I have homes all over the world, amazing ships, beautiful planes, a wonderful wife, a great family. I sacrifice it for this place.”
“It’s better to love beautiful girls than to be gay.”
“Of course their homes are temporary. But these people should treat it as if they were going on a hike” (about those who were left homeless after the L’Aquila earthquake).
“I am forced to engage in politics, otherwise I will be sent to prison.”
“If I, while taking into account the interests of other people, also take into account my own interests, we cannot talk about a conflict of interest.”
“If I sleep three hours a night, that will be enough for me to make love for three hours.”
“Without a doubt, I am a man who has gone through more trials than any other man in history has gone through.”
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Multi-billionaire Silvio Berlusconi, whose photo can often be found on the front pages of various media, several times stood at the head of the Italian cabinet of ministers. He began his active political activity only after reaching 57 years of age. His entire political career was fraught with numerous scandals and trials.
From the biography of a politician
Silvio Berlusconi, whose biography is inextricably linked with Italy, was born in Milan in 1936 on September 29.
In his youth, he sold vacuum cleaners and performed songs on cruise ships. Later he began reselling real estate, in which he achieved quite great success.
Since 1974, he launched the cable television channel “Telemilano”. Although Italian television was quite strictly regulated, Silvio Berlusconi managed to launch a trading network on it.
Today, he controls three private television networks. His business empire includes several magazines, a publishing house and much more.
In the political arena
Since 1993, Silvio Berlusconi began to create the political party "Forward Italy". The next year he managed to become the country's prime minister. However, after existing for a little more than six months, the coalition with the help of which Berlusconi took office fell apart.
Nevertheless, Silvio Berlusconi was popular as many relied on his business experience and assumed that it would greatly benefit the Italian economy.
Given his promises to reduce the tax burden and increase the number of jobs, voters again elected him prime minister in 2001. Berlusconi held this post until 2006.
After renaming the party “People of Freedom,” the politician managed to become prime minister again in 2008. Three years later, when the growth of Italian foreign debt intensified after the crisis in Europe, he resigned.
About scandals
In addition to criminal charges related to embezzlement, abuse of power, tax fraud and bribery, Silvio Berlusconi has been involved in several scandals involving women.
He told one girl from the TV show that if he were single, he would immediately marry her. Veronica Lario, the wife of Silvio Berlusconi, having learned about this, began to demand an official apology from him. Two years after another scandal, she filed for divorce.
This was the politician's second marriage, which lasted 15 years. He lived with his first wife, Carla Dell'Oglio, for 20 years.
Core Party Values
Silvio Berlusconi's domestic policy as prime minister was built on the basis of the core party values that were proclaimed in the political structure he created - "Forward Italy".
The main emphasis is on proclaiming the ideas of the free market, business and competition. The first place in the economic development of the country comes from the entrepreneurship and initiative of every resident of Italy and the development of high-tech production. Much attention is paid to the institution of family, social equality, the foundations of which are justice and freedom.
An important role was given to Italian traditions, helping the elderly and frail people. The government called for protection of all segments of citizens from financial, legal and bureaucratic harassment. Society was encouraged to develop in an environment free of class strife, encouraging hard work, generosity, solidarity, tolerance and mutual respect.
Tightening immigration processes
In order to limit the flow of illegal migration mainly from African countries, the government tried to establish cooperation with neighboring countries in the Mediterranean region.
Legislation against illegal immigration has been tightened. Foreign African, Asian, Latin American, and Eastern European workers who entered the country illegally were subject to heavy fines, detained in temporary detention centers, and expelled from the country.
Silvio Berlusconi, foreign policy
It became clear to the Berlusconi government that a huge influence on domestic politics in the country is exerted by outside influence, so Berlusconi constantly continued to integrate Italy into the structures of the European Union.
The Italian leader presented his vision of the European future as similar to the British one, that is, a classical liberal Europe in which the government has a smaller role in managing the economy. At the same time, Italian foreign policy has always been distinguished by a pro-federalist position.
Berlusconi believed the future of Europe was in the hands of European elected institutions, national parliaments and EU member states, which must act together.
Along with this, he actively sought cooperation and a special relationship with American President Bush. The head of the Italian government was the first to rejoice at the victory of the Republican Party in America; he considered his successes in the election campaign to be a continuation of the tendencies of the ruling elite “leaning to the right.”
The Italian prime minister spoke in support of Bush's program to create a national missile defense system, and also announced the possibility of the country joining the American refusal to implement the Kyoto Protocol regarding environmental protection due to the prohibitive high cost of implementing its provisions.
Combining posts
When the Italian Foreign Minister R. Ruggiero resigned in scandal in 2002, Berlusconi himself spent ten months combining activities in this post, along with his premiership.
His statements noted his reluctance to make Italy a hostage to international institutions. His government must forge its own path. Many observers noted his criticism of the European Union.
Berlusconi fought for the inviolability of Italian sovereignty, resisted the influence of “centralism and bureaucracy of Europe,” but this did not stop him from talking about the popularity of the European idea among the Italian population and believing in a single European perspective.
Berlusconi's activities simultaneously in two posts led to some disorganization in the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
He himself had to hold multilateral and bilateral meetings with the heads of foreign policy structures, and this was not befitting his rank, so more often one of the deputy ministers or the foreign policy adviser to the prime minister had to participate in these meetings. The result was that at this time no serious initiatives were put forward on the part of Italy.
Problems of the Italian EU Presidency
Many experts believe that during the Italian presidency of the European Union, the prosecution of the Italian leader Berlusconi had a very negative impact on the image of this country.
He was perceived by the European public as a populist and corrupt, so he did not achieve any significant foreign policy successes in the political initiatives of the European Union.
His harsh statements against some European politicians and government officials led to numerous scandals. Many European politicians did not understand a number of ideas expressed by S. Berlusconi, in particular, about the entry into the European Union of countries such as Israel, Turkey and Russia.
Don, Papa, “Your TV Broadcasting”, Cavaliere, the Great Silvio... What names did the Italians give Silvio Berlusconi! An unsinkable politician and successful businessman, loving and at times eccentric, he has been on the lips and television screens of his country for several decades.
Berlusconi's childhood and youth
Silvio Berlusconi was born on September 29, 1936 in Milan. His father Luigi is a simple bank employee, his mother Rosella is a housewife. Having little income, his parents nevertheless tried to give Silvio a good education. The boy studied well at school, and even helped his classmates with homework and tests, although not for free - for candy and money. Even then, the commercial spirit of the future Italian tycoon was evident.
After graduating from school, Silvio Berlusconi entered the University of Milan to study law. His student years were spent surrounded by numerous friends, whom Berlusconi’s cheerful disposition, charm and the makings of a leader allowed him to acquire. Berlusconi's student earned money doing coursework for other students, and during the holidays he played the double bass and sang at dances with his friend Fedele Confalonieri.
Out of love for music, Berlusconi created a musical group with which he performed on cruise ferries. The income was small, but the charming and energetic student earned something more - meeting influential people who vacationed on ferries. These contacts were useful to him later when he started his own business. A turbulent life did not prevent the efficient Berlusconi from graduating from university with honors. And here he was able to earn money: his thesis on the topic of legal relations in the field of advertising was awarded a prize of 2 million lire.
Starting a business
Luigi's father predicted that his son would continue his own career - as a bank employee. But the energetic, ambitious Silvio was not attracted by this prospect. Immediately after graduating from university in 1961, Berlusconi founded his own construction company, Edilnord. He planned to build a microdistrict of prestigious houses for wealthy Milanese. For this purpose, he bought a huge plot of land in the north of Milan. Where did yesterday's student get the money? There is still no exact answer, but it is obvious that Berlusconi’s charm, gift of persuasion and remarkable organizational skills played a significant role in this.
In addition, the acquired land was relatively cheap. Its low price was explained simply: airliners came to land in this area. But this did not bother the novice businessman. Moreover, soon planes, for an inexplicable reason, began to fly away from the microdistrict under construction, which immediately increased its popularity, and therefore the cost of housing in it. In just two years, the Edilnord company built the Milan-2 residential area with comfortable palazzos, designed for 4 thousand residents, equipped with all kinds of infrastructure.
At the same time, a television channel, owned by Berlusconi, began broadcasting. The creation of the Telemilano studio, from the point of view of the Italian laws of that time, was not entirely legal, because there was a state monopoly on television broadcasting. But the future TV mogul defended his brainchild, citing the fact that his channel was a cable channel and broadcast only to residents of Milan-2.
Berlusconi Empire
Berlusconi's business grew. Soon after the first microdistrict Milan-3 grew up. Berlusconi owned television channels and publishing houses, magazines and newspapers, shops and the goods that were sold in them. Later they were joined by insurance companies. Perhaps the very lifestyle of the Italian consumer in the 1970s-80s, and even later, was determined by the Berlusconi empire. There was even a corresponding term - “Berlusconism”. Management of all areas of the business was taken over by the company "Fininvest Holding Company", created by Berlusconi in 1975.
Berlusconi's information business has flourished. He paid special attention to television, considering it the most effective tool for influencing people's minds. In the 1980s, he created three national commercial channels: first Canale 5, a little later Italia 1 and Retequatro. Since 1984, he no longer had to fear antimonopoly measures against them. This year, not without the participation of politicians - friends of Berlusconi - a law was passed to allow commercial television broadcasting in Italy. Berlusconi officially became the king of media, the owner of the largest telecommunications network. Success in Italy allowed the Fininvest media company to reach the European level, and in the late 1980s French, Spanish, and German television channels appeared, owned by Silvio Berlusconi.
In 1986, Berlusconi bought the Milan football club. This was largely a political move, a concession to the leftist government of Bettino Craxi. The fact is that the fans of the outsider club were mainly communists, and Milan’s sporting successes would contribute to the growth of the government’s popularity. In exchange, Craxi suspended prosecutors' proceedings against Berlusconi. Having taken custody of the football club, the successful businessman secured huge investments in it (including from his own funds) and bought several outstanding football players. This allowed Milan to become a super club in Europe in the 1990s, collecting many trophies. Berlusconi's popularity among his army of eight million fans was off the charts, and he did not fail to use this trump card.
Three forays into politics
Banking on his wild popularity amid the political ups and downs of the early 1990s, Berlusconi began his career as a politician. The party he founded “Forward Italy!” proclaimed such priorities as freedom, traditions, family, entrepreneurship, the Catholic faith, compassion for the weak. The victory of the newly formed party in the elections seemed incredible and, nevertheless, it took place. A big role in this was played by the powerful support of Berlusconi by all the information resources belonging to him. But the media mogul did not remain in the chair of the Chairman of the Council of Ministers for long: from May 1994 to January 1995. Accused by the prosecutor's office of corruption, he was forced to resign from his post.
The second rise to power was longer. It was preceded by a serious reorganization of the party and the creation of a bloc of right-wing forces, the House of Freedom, which united, among others, the Northern League, which advocated autonomy for the north of Italy, neo-fascists and Christian Democrats. Once again, Berlusconi relied on the resources of the media he owned. The bloc's political program included lowering taxes, carrying out judicial and educational reforms, reducing the number of officials, and solving the acute problem of illegal immigrants for Italy. The bloc's victory in the 2001 elections again brought Silvio Berlusconi to the post of Prime Minister.
However, the transition to the euro the following years caused a lot of problems within the country. Prices in Italy were rising, and the reforms were ineffective, which caused a wave of protests in 2002-2003 against the Berlusconi government. Italians were particularly displeased with his ruinous foreign policy aimed at supporting US military expansion in Afghanistan and Iraq. On the other hand, Berlusconi supported Russia’s unpopular measures in the world community regarding Chechnya, which further reduced his rating within the country.
In April 2005, Freedom House lost the regional elections, and Berlusconi went into the shadows. But three years later, having managed to win the elections with the coalition party “People of Freedom,” he was again in power. This time Berlusconi served as prime minister from May 2008 to October 2011. For the Italian political system, such a long stay in power is very rare. However, his activities were not cloudless. In 2007, unable to bear her husband’s constant affairs with young girls, his wife Victoria Lario, who had practically not lived with Berlusconi since 1994, filed for divorce. In 2009, the prime minister was attacked by a crowd: Massimo Tartaglia threw a heavy statue at Berlusconi, breaking his nose. Berlusconi's third rise to power ended in 2011 with a new charge from the prosecutor's office.
"Teflon" Silvio
The Italian prosecutor's office has always been actively interested in Berlusconi's activities. The charges against him were varied: bribery, tax concealment, embezzlement of treasury funds, giving false testimony, illegal cash flows, intimate relationships with underage girls. In total, Berlusconi attended about 2.5 thousand court hearings and spent at least 200 million euros on litigation. Some of the charges remained unproven; for others, he was found guilty, but never went to prison, receiving the popular nickname “Teflon” for his ability to slip out of the hands of the law. This is also the Berlusconi phenomenon.
But in 2012, the Prime Minister failed to get away with it. Bye. First, the case of the underage beauty Karima Al-Marug, whom Berlusconi provided patronage, thundered throughout Italy and beyond. Then an investigation was launched into tax fraud in 2002-2003. The outcome of the proceedings was Berlusconi's conviction and 4 years in prison. The former prime minister himself did not admit guilt, claiming that the case was fabricated by his political enemies. However, today, through the efforts of the best lawyers, four years have already turned into one. Rumor has it that this term may also become virtual, because the verdict has been filed for appeal again.
The activities of Silvio Berlusconi can be assessed in different ways, but one thing is clear: he is a bright personality of the era, who left a mark on politics and business throughout Europe. And certainly his life cannot be called boring and ordinary.
Biography
Italian politician and major entrepreneur, Prime Minister of Italy (1994, 2001-2006, since May 2008) was born in Milan on September 29, 1936 in the family of a bank employee. After graduating from school in 1955, he entered the University of Milan to study applied jurisprudence, graduating with honors in 1961.
Business life Berlusconi started in the construction industry, and this activity remained his main occupation for 20 years. In 1962, he built the first apartment building, and in 1974 he completed the construction of the Milan-2 microdistrict.
In the 1970s he became involved in telecommunications. In 1980, he founded Canale 5, the first national commercial television network in Italy, which immediately gained popularity among television viewers. Somewhat later, he created two more television channels: Italia 1 (started broadcasting from Rasconi in 1982) and Retequatro (started broadcasting in 1984 from Mondadori). Late 1980s Berlusconi created by Italy's leading Publishing House Mondadori.
The success of commercial television in Italy allowed the development of several more areas of activity, which were united within the Fininvest holding company (founded in 1978). This includes the creation of the commercial television channel La Chinq in France, which began broadcasting in 1986, and the creation of television channels in Germany (Telefunt, 1987) and Spain (Telechinco, 1989). In 1986, Silvio Berlusconi became president of A.C.Milan, one of the most famous football clubs in Italy. He took over the club in distress, and three years later made it the winner of the Champions Cup.
At the beginning of 1994, he decided to leave business and enter politics. On January 26 of the same year, he resigned from his post at Fininvest and created a new political movement, Forza Italia ("Forward, Italy!"), transformed into a party in 1996. In the elections of March 27, 1994, the new movement received the largest number of votes. On May 10, 1994, Berlusconi was elected Prime Minister of Italy. Summer 1994 Berlusconi received 6 summonses from the prosecutor's office in connection with corruption charges. In December 1994 he resigned.
In 1999–2000 Berlusconi appeared before an Italian court several times on charges of economic crimes (tax evasion, bribery), but was completely acquitted.
In 2001 he returned to the position of Prime Minister of Italy.
In April 2006, the center-left opposition won the elections in Italy, and Berlusconi had to resign as prime minister. But leaving the political arena Berlusconi did not intend to, he became a member of the European Parliament from his party.
After the fall of the government Romano Prodi in January 2008, took part in the election race, leading the center-right coalition “People of Freedom”. May 8, 2008 Berlusconi and 21 ministers of his government took the oath of allegiance to the Italian Republic in the presidential Quirinal Palace. From the moment the new government of Italy is sworn in, it is considered valid. Berlusconi is a skilled and tireless speaker who speaks English and French.
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, has the Order of Labor Merit.
He is the richest political leader in Italy, as confirmed by the income declarations of parliamentarians for 2006, presented in March 2008 in the country's national parliament. So, Berlusconi declared that his taxable income for 2006 amounted to 139 million 245 thousand 570 euros. This figure significantly exceeds his declared income in 2005: then he declared “only” 28 million 33 thousand 122 euros.
Silvio Berlusconi was born in Milan on September 29, 1936. His father, Luigi, was a bank employee, his mother's name was Rosella Bossi. After graduating from a regular high school in 1955, he entered the University of Milan at the Faculty of Applied Law, where he graduated with honors in 1961, having the opportunity to write a scientific work on advertising.
Silvio Berlusconi began his business life in the construction industry, and this activity remained his main occupation for 20 years.
In the late 1970s, with the rise of the local television network (TeleMilano), Silvio Berlusconi realized that Italy was ready for commercial television viewing on a national scale and concentrated all his energies on this new and exciting line of work.
In 1980 he founded Canale 5, the first national commercial television network in Italy, which immediately gained popularity among television viewers. Somewhat later, he created two more television channels: Italia 1 (started broadcasting from Rasconi in 1982) and Retequatro (started broadcasting in 1984 from Mondadori).
The key factors in his success in this endeavor were, firstly, the creation of Pubitalia"80, a company engaged in the creation of information advertising, and, secondly, the creation of program charts with a selection of the most popular television programs.
The television commercial business received a new impetus in its development with the creation of the television review Sorrisi e Calzoni TV, which almost immediately became one of the most popular magazines, with a circulation of more than 2 million copies. This strengthened the position that Silvio Berlusconi already held in the world of newspaper and magazine publishing, based on his majority ownership of Il Giornale, the national daily newspaper published by Indro Montanelli, one of Italy's most famous journalists. In the late 80s, interest in publishing culminated in the creation of Italy's leading Publishing House, Mondadori.
The success of commercial television in Italy allowed Silvio Berlusconi to develop several more areas of activity in the 80s, which were united within the Fininvest holding company (founded in 1978). This includes the creation of the commercial television channel La Chinq in France, which began broadcasting in 1986, and the creation of television channels in Germany (Telefunt, 1987) and Spain (Telechinco, 1989).
As a result of such rapid growth, by the beginning of the 90s Fininvest became the second largest private company in Italy (the number of employees in this company was about 40,000) and the largest media group not only in Italy, but also in Europe. In 1986, Silvio Berlusconi became president of A.C.Milan, one of the most famous football clubs in Italy.
Best of the day
At the beginning of 1994, Silvio Berlusconi decided to leave business and enter politics. On January 26 of the same year, he resigned from his post at Fininvest and created a new political movement, Forza Italia.
In the elections of March 27, the new movement received the largest number of votes, and the coalition of parties gathered around the Il Polo della liberta movement formed an absolute majority in parliament. Subsequently, the President of the Republic instructed Berlusconi to form a government, which was approved by Parliament in May 1994.
