‘Here I am, I am here for you’: Italy's Berlusconi sends video message to his FI party

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who has been in hospital since April 5, sent a video message to his Forza Italia (FI) party convention in Milan, state-run ANSA news agency said Saturday.

"Here I am, I am here for you, wearing a shirt and jacket for the first time in over a month," he said, as he sat at a desk with papers in front of him.

Berlusconi said the party is the "essential and loyal pillar" of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni-led coalition government.

"In just a few months, the government has delivered results of which we are proud," he added.

Berlusconi, 86, was hospitalized last month with a problem linked to a previous infection which doctors later said is from a chronic form of leukemia.

He was discharged from the intensive care unit April 16 but remains hospitalized at San Raffaele Hospital in Milan.

In 2020, he also suffered complications linked to the coronavirus, which he said was "the worst experience" of his life.

He was hospitalized in March for four days.

Berlusconi served as prime minister in three governments from 1994 - 1995, 2001 - 2006 and 2008 - 2011.