It's hard to believe, but Silvio Berlusconi's reign as Italian prime minister appears to be over. The 75-year-old media mogul -- assailed by a stagnant economy, ballooning debt, and eroding political support -- won a budget vote on Tuesday but failed to garner the support of a majority in Italy's lower house of parliament. And now several news outlets are reporting that Berlusconi, after meeting with Italian Giorgio Napolitano, has agreed to resign and make way for early elections so long as parliament passes an austerity package that will likely be voted on this month.
The news is particularly striking because the Italian leader has earned a reputation as one of the world's wiliest political survivors. Incredibly, he's survived over 50 confidence votes since assuming power for a third time in 2008, and has improbably rebounded from all manner of sex scandals and legal dramas. Curiously enough, it turned out to be the economy -- not the corruption charges or the sex scandals -- that brought down the billionaire businessman who founded his political party around free-market principles. Here's a look at Berlusconi's rise and fall and rise and fall and ... well, you get the picture.
Above, Berlusconi attends a press conference at the G-20 Summit in Cannes, France, last week.
David Ramos/Getty Images
1994: The Berlusconi era begins
Berlusconi was elected to parliament and appointed prime minister in March 1994, only a few months after he decided to enter politics and form his own political party, Forza Italia. But the coalition government he cobbled together -- which included the conservative parties Alleanza Nazionale and Lega Nord -- imploded only seven months later when Lega Nord leader Umberto Bossi (the same politician who's calling for Berlusconi to resign this week) deserted the prime minister, who had just been indicted by a Milan court for bribing Italian tax authorities.
"It's not that investors have anything against Berlusconi personally -- it's just that his three-party coalition is seen to have reneged on its promises and that as long as he is prime minister investors will have no confidence in Italy," an Italian market analyst explained to AFX News ahead of the Italian premier's resignation. BNP Paribas ran an analysis with the headline, "The End of the Berlusconi Era?" But there were signs that Berlusconi's political career still had life in it. A poll released in late December indicated that Berlusconi was still Italians' top choice to lead the next government.
Above, Berlusconi gives a speech in parliament in December 1994 before tendering his resignation.
AFP/Getty Images
1996: The slick-suited star comes down to Earth
Berlusconi's center-right coalition lost to a center-left alliance led by Romano Prodi during general elections in April as media reports questioned the staying power of the media tycoon and his Forza Italia party. Agence France Presse called Berlusconi "Italy's political shooting star of the 1990s" and analysts concluded that Italian politics had lurched decisively to the left. While Berlusconi "slid into the Prime Minister's chair" in 1994 by "dazzling voters with his slick suits and seamless patter," Australia's The Age explained, he had since been "soiled by corruption charges and a backlog of acrimony that even his champion soccer club, AC Milan, cannot dispel."
Above, Berlusconi holds a press conference in July 1998 after a Milan court convicted him of illegal party financing and sentenced him to over two years in prison. Berlusconi was later cleared by an appeals court after the statute of limitations on the accusations expired.
Gerard Julien/AFP/Getty Images
2001-2004: The phoenix rises
Berlusconi returned as prime minister after his center-right coalition won elections -- but he faced a string of corruption cases involving embezzlement, tax fraud and false accounting, and attempting to bribe judges. His troubles sparked media criticism, angry demonstrations, and even calls from former Italian president Francesco Cossiga for Berlusconi to resign if convicted. Yet somehow, Berlusconi managed to dodge all these legal bullets through a mixture of acquittals, appeals, statute of limitations lapses, and government tweaks to the law. He ultimately presided over the longest-serving Italian government since World War II.
This is when Berlusconi's mystique as a phoenix-like politician began to take shape. The New York Times marveled in 2002 that Berlusconi "seems practically impervious to political damage." But the calls for his resignation continued. In 2004, when Italy's economy minister resigned, an opposition leader proclaimed the "end of the Berlusconi era." Berlusconi would eventually have to face a political defeat, but his tenure was far from over.
Above, leftist demonstrators attend an anti-Berlusconi rally in Rome in March 2002.
Alberto Pizzoli/AFP/Getty Images
2005: Setbacks and comebacks
Italy's ruling coalition collapsed in April after suffering a stinging defeat in regional polls as the economy sputtered. Analysts framed the results as a referendum on the embattled premier, and even Berlusconi's coalition allies lashed out at him. "This drop in popularity for Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi heralds a storm that it would be suicidal to underestimate," a commentary in Italy's Il Sole 24 Ore declared, per a BBC translation. "Berlusconi must come up with a comeback ploy pretty soon if he wants to avoid going under."
In fact, Berlusconi did just that. He resigned, only to reshuffle his cabinet, revamp his coalition's platform, and form a new government just days later. Berlusconi told the Italian news agency ANSA that he would consider stepping down as prime minister if he was able to fuse his center-right coalition into a single, stable party. "It's not my ambition to be irreplaceable," he explained. (Fast forward to 2011, when the embattled Berlusconi argued there was "no one else capable" of leading Italy.)
Above, Berlusconi participates in the swearing-in ceremony of Italy's new government in April 2005 with then-Italian deputy premier Giulio Tremonti (on left) and then-Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi.
Andreas Solaro/AFP/Getty Images
2006-2008: Down for the count?
Berlusconi narrowly lost another election to Romano Prodi and a subsequent legal challenge of the results. But analysts were too schooled in Berlusconi's history to write his political obituary. "Is the Berlusconi era over?" the New York Times asked. Given that Berlusconi would want to protect his business empire, avoid legal trouble, prepare for a comeback, and feed his ego, the paper concluded, the answer is "almost certainly not."
Indeed, the article proved prescient. The Teflon Don launched a new center-right coalition in 2007 and returned to power for a third time in 2008 after a no-confidence vote forced Prodi's government to resign (the legislature soon passed a bill granting Berlusconi immunity from prosecution while he remained in office).
The picture above shows the front pages of Italian newspapers a day after the April 2006 elections.
Vincenzo Pinto/AFP/Getty Images
2009: Public scandal and crisis
This year marked a low point for Berlusconi. His wife, Veronica Lario, announced that she would be filing for divorce and declared that the Italian prime minister "consorts with minors" after he attended the 18th birthday party of underwear model Noemi Letizia. Testimonials and photos fueled further allegations that Berlusconi invited young girls and prostitutes to his raucous parties and compensated them with cash, gifts, and even government positions. Two corruption cases reopened against Berlusconi when Italy's Constitutional Court overturned his immunity from prosecution while in office, prompting the prime minister to complain that he was the most persecuted person "in the entire history of the world." To literally add insult to injury, Berlusconi was hit in the face at a rally in Milan by a man wielding a model of the city's cathedral, and was confronted with mass rallies in Rome demanding his resignation.
As 2009 drew to a close, the Economist observed that Berlusconi was besieged from all sides and had reached a "crisis point." But, the magazine concluded, "he has a joker up his sleeve."
Above, Berlusconi appears on the television program Porta a Porta in May 2009 to discuss his wife's decision to file for divorce.
Tiziana Fabi/AFP/Getty Images
2010-2011: The bunga-bunga years
Berlusconi was hit with an investigation into his bacchanalian "bunga-bunga" parties and his relationship with a teenage Moroccan nightclub dancer named Karima el-Mahroug. He went on trial for paying for sex with an underage girl and abusing his power and, separately, for tax fraud. What's more, Berlusconi began to face a marathon of confidence votes on austerity measures designed to keep Italy from falling victim to the European debt crisis. All these problems prompted former ally Gianfranco Fini to split with Berlusconi and call for his resignation, and for other high-profile members of Berlusconi's coalition to follow suit. The BBC's Duncan Kennedy speculated at the end of 2010 that the Lario divorce might have marked the beginning of the end for Berlusconi -- the point at which "historians will conclude that the rot set in."
Above, Christmas figurines on sale in Naples in Nov. 2010 show Berlusconi as a caveman in underwear.
Carlo Hermann/AFP/Getty Images
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AMANADRYER
10:04 AM ET
November 8, 2011
Ohh he is looking awesome.
Yes this is the first time, He is looking like a leader. He is an awesome person for the future.
Read it which makes my doubtful.
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's key coalition partner has urged him to step aside ahead of a crucial budget vote.
Northern League leader Umberto Bossi is a volatile ally who brought down Mr Berlusconi's first government in 1994.
Mr Berlusconi's majority has crumbled ahead of the vote, with several MPs defecting or saying they will rebel.
Until now he has insisted he has enough support to be able to continue to govern and has denied he will resign.
While Italy's deficit is relatively low, investors are concerned that the combination of Italy's low growth rate and 1.9tn euro (£1.63tn; $2.6tn) debt could make it the next country to fall in the eurozone debt crisis.
Meanwhile Milan's blue-chip FTSE MIB stock index rose 2.5% on the news of Mr Bossi's statement. Markets had rallied in the morning on incorrect reports that Mr Berlusconi was stepping down.
Test of strength
"We asked the prime minister to stand aside," Mr Bossi told reporters on the margins of parliament, adding that the former justice minister and personal protege of Mr Berlusconi, Angelino Alfano, should take over.
The Northern League is the second largest party in the coalition, with about 60 seats.
Continue reading the main story
Analysis
image of Alan Johnston Alan Johnston BBC News, Rome
There's been much talk of defections from Mr Berlusconi's government. The parliamentary vote should reveal whether he still has the majority he needs to continue to govern. If the vote goes badly for the prime minister, there'd almost certainly be a confidence motion within days and then Mr Berlusconi might well be swept from power.
He, however, has remained full of fight. He says he has all the support he needs. But if he's right and he can indeed soldier on, Italy is likely to come under more financial pressure.
The international money markets no longer believe that Mr Berlusconi can repair Italy's economy and the country is being forced to pay higher and higher rates of interest.
The normally routine vote on approving state finances has taken on much more significance now as a test of Mr Berlusconi's political strength.
After late-night talks with his own party and Northern League leaders, Mr Berlusconi is reported to have said that he would wait to see the outcome of the vote before making a decision on his future.
One of Berlusconi's closest allies, MP Francesco Cicchitto, told reporters that leaders of the coalition would wait to see the result of the vote.
"One thing at a time. First the vote, let's let it happen. Then we'll reflect on the vote," Mr Cicchitto said.
Mr Berlusconi spent the morning attempting to shore up his support with those MPs who had threatened to abandon him ahead of the vote, which has now been delayed until 16:00 GMT by Cruise agency.
Borrowing costs spike
Last month, the same budget measure was defeated in parliament by a single vote. Mr Berlusconi is reported to be short of the 316 votes - more than than half of the 630-member chamber - needed to prove that he still has a majority.
But analysts say Mr Berlusconi may still win as the centre-left may abstain, allowing the essential measure to pass.
Members of the opposition have said they will be present in the chamber, but will not vote, La Repubblica reports.
"Our message to the coalition is, 'be counted'," Pier Luigi Bersani, secretary of the centre-left Democratic Party said, according to the paper.
Continue reading the main story
Who is Umberto Bossi?
Umberto Bossi
Leader of the regionalist Northern League party which provides Silvio Berlusconi with a parliamentary majority
A former singer, aged 70, married (twice) with four sons
Minister for Institutional Reforms in the Berlusconi cabinet
Had a break from frontline politics after suffering a stroke in March 2004
Profile: Italy's Umberto Bossi
Profiles: Potential successors
Were Mr Berlusconi to lose, he could either resign immediately or be ordered by President Giorgio Napolitano to call a confidence vote.
The BBC's Alan Johnston, in Rome, says it is certainly worth remembering that Mr Berlusconi is a master deal-maker and political infighter, having survived more than 50 confidence motions in the past.
But this crisis is different as it goes beyond Italian politics, our correspondent says.
The international money markets are now forcing Italy to pay interest rates that could eventually ruin it, which means the pressure on Mr Berlusconi is extraordinary, he adds.
Doubt about Italy's governance and its ability to repay its debts have sent the markets seesawing over the past two days.
On Tuesday, the cost of government borrowing spiked at a new record of 6.74% because of the crisis, just short of the 7% threshold at which Portugal and Ireland were forced to accept bailouts.
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Sky News Berlusconi Urged To Quit By Ally Before Vote 56 mins ago
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Financial Times* Berlusconi faces crunch parliament vote 3 hrs ago
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AMINAKIS
6:26 PM ET
November 8, 2011
Hey there and thank you for
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DAVEH86
6:44 AM ET
November 10, 2011
Berlusconi
I find it remarkable that he has been elected on three different occasions (as opposed to three terms) is that a record?
KESHAB
10:37 AM ET
November 11, 2011
some fact's
I found some fact's here,
Silvio Berlusconi began his career by selling vacuum cleaners and built a reputation as a crooner in nightclubs and on cruise ships.
profile Information on BBC, wasn't that interesting?
thank u
Keshab
ANGELIE
11:46 AM ET
November 16, 2011
The Fall is not so bad
He sure looks great for his age, considering the political upheaval, sex scandals, legal dramas, etc he has been facing. I guess it doesn't hurt to have $9 billion in your pocket either. home remodeling ideas
CYBERMATT
6:12 PM ET
November 26, 2011
What he had done in fight of corruption?
Honestly, I do not want to overly criticize this person as I am not from Italy, however I really do not see as much positives after ending of his tenure as I would expected. I am interested in fighting a corruption at broad level, but I can see that this issue is really deeply-rooted in the society as well as politics of Italy after his long tenure. It is sad to see that whenever you have strong corruption in a country this country is going into bad economic situations and the Italy is only confirming this assupmtion. Hopefully, new prime minister will concentrate on these issues much more as the economic situation in Italy is pretty bad.
Matty from http://mycybermondaydeals.org.
KJWILSON
11:54 AM ET
December 4, 2011
Italy Must Not Fail
Mr. Berlusconi's departure is obviously great news; you must welcome the resignation of somebody so incompetent. However, his departure does hardly any to turn back unavoidable. As Thomas Carlyle taught us, national bankruptcy takes place when the idiot left in power is simply too idiotic to push them back to another person. The following couple of months will let us determine whether an italian man , or even the German state is much more dysfunctional according to when the Germans choose to attempt an Italian rescue.
Italy in the meantime is attempting to locate a "technocrat" to operate the show. The issue here's the technocrats happen to be running the show for a long time; they're the only real ones able to articulating the issue and also have been the primary policy makers. Expecting the technocrats to repair a technocratic issue is ludicrous.
MADAME MICHU
9:28 AM ET
December 7, 2011
Hi Silvio Berlusconi
I believe the facts have been skewed a bit in the post about colonialism. East Africa the tourist areas the Africans speak English as well as their native language. Once you get into the bush it is very difficult to find an English speaking community. Few speak English and all are very self sufficient. Holding on to their ancestral rituals and way of life.
I have made many visits to the bush and finding English speaking guides come at a premium. The code promo country is beautiful the people are graceful and I will be back as soon as I can.