Former PM, Forza Italia Leader Berlusconi Hospitalised-Ansa

Italian outlet Ansa reporting that former Prime Minister and head of the centre-right Forza Italia Silvio Berlusconi has been hospitalised, while the Il Foglio newspaper states that Berlusconi is currently in intensive care unit at the San Raffaele hospital in Milan. Forza is the third-largest party in the conservative coalition gov't of PM Giorgia Meloni, and while he does not hold ministerial office Berlusconi is a sitting senator and remains the main decision-maker in the party.

• Berlusconi has been the loudest voice in the governing coalition calling for a more conciliatory stance towards sanctions on Russia. Berlusconi has argued that Italian billpayers need to be protected from high energy prices and that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is largely responsible for the Russian attack.
• This has put him at loggerheads with Meloni, who has pursued a similar line to many other EU leaders in backing sanctions and continued military support for Kyiv.