By Ivana Kottasová and Laura Smith-Spark, CNN
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has tweeted “Gone is the great fighter” about Silvio Berlusconi, accompanied by a photo of the two men shaking hands.
An inscription on the photo, in Italian, says: "Rest in peace, my friend!"
Orban and Berlusconi, both strongman right-wing populist politicians, met personally on a number of occasions and described each other as friends.
From CNN’s Niamh Kennedy in London
Former Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte described Silvio Berlusconi as a man who “polarized debate” like no other, in a tribute posted on Facebook on Monday.
In the note, Conte, the leader of populist Italian political party the Five Star Movement, described the late prime minister as an entrepreneur and politician who “wrote significant pages of our history.”
“He ignited and polarized public debate perhaps like no other and even those who faced him as a political opponent must acknowledge that he never lacked courage, passion, and tenacity,” said Conte, who was Italian prime minister from 2018 to 2021.
Conte said he wanted to convey his and the Five Star Movement’s condolences to Berlusconi’s family and loved ones.
Berlusconi can arguably be called the godfather of modern populism, having launched his Forza Italia party in 1994.
He began his career as a cruise ship singer before making a fortune in real estate and starting a media empire that grew into the Mediaset conglomerate, a global player in the media business.
See his life in pictures here.
From CNN’s Niamh Kennedy in London
Former Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has paid tribute to Silvio Berlusconi, calling him a man who “made history” in Italy. Writing on Facebook, Renzi said:
"Silvio Berlusconi has made history in this country. So many have loved him, so many have hated him: all today must recognize that his impact on political life but also economic, sports and television was unprecedented."
“Today Italy mourns together with his family, his loved ones, his companies, his party,” Renzi who was Italian Prime Minister from 2014 to 2016, added.
From CNN's Valentina Di Donato
Italian Minister of Agriculture Francesco Lollobrigida has called Berlusconi a "man who made history."
"He prevented the left from taking power by resisting attacks of all kinds for years,” Lollobrigida wrote on Twitter, adding:
"We haven't always shared his methods and his choices, but always his great love for Freedom. The Italian right owes him a lot. The memory of his generosity, his elegance, intelligence and commitment will still be the backbone of the centre-right that he wanted and defended. A hug to his family and our deepest condolences as Italians for a great man."
Before entering politics, Berlusconi made his name in Italy as a business tycoon and media mogul, at one point becoming the richest man in Italy.
Berlusconi enjoyed his first real success in property development in the late 1960s when he was involved in a project to build Milano Two -- nearly 4,000 flats -- outside Milan.
After amassing a fortune from his property portfolio in the 1970s, he diversified his interests by setting up a TV cable company, Telemilano, and buying two other cable channels in an effort to break the national TV monopoly in Italy.
In 1978, these channels were incorporated into his newly formed Fininvest group, which included department stores, insurance companies and even AC Milan -- one of the world's biggest football clubs, which he owned for 31 years.
Berlusconi turned his attention to politics in 1993 when he formed the center-right Forza Italia Party, named for "Forza, Italia!" (Go, Italy!), a chant heard at Italian national soccer team games.
As of this year, Berlusconi was worth $7.56 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
Silvio Berlusconi, who has died at the age of 86, was long regarded as Italy's most colorful public figure.
He was elected prime minister three times and served for a total of nine years, longer than anyone since fascist dictator Benito Mussolini.
A divisive figure in Italy, Berlusconi's career was marked by a series of political, financial and personal scandals, many of which landed him in court.
Berlusconi was tried on charges ranging from tax evasion and bribery to corruption and having sex with an underage prostitute. But only one case stuck -- a 2012 conviction for tax evasion in a deal involving television rights.
From CNN's Valentina Di Donato
Silvio Berlusconi, the flamboyant billionaire and former Italian prime minister who once described himself as the "Jesus Christ of politics," has died at age 86.
Berlusconi died at Milan’s San Raffaele Hospital in Italy.
He was admitted to the hospital on Friday, less than a month after spending 45 days there for a lung infection.
