The Legacy of Silvio Berlusconi: From Italian Politics to Populist Influence.
Silvio Berlusconi, a divisive figure in Italian politics and business known for his ribald jokes and sex scandals, has died at the age of 86. He conditioned Italian politics and embodied its conservative movement during and after his tenure as Italy's leader. Berlusconi avoided conviction for nearly two decades, but in 2013 he was sentenced to a four-year jail term and a two-year ban from public office in a tax-fraud case, the only definitive conviction he ever received.