International leaders,
associates and national supporters sent well wishes to former
Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi to mark his 80th birthday on
Thursday, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and the
Chinese company that is buying AC Milan soccer club.
Putin's office said the Russian leader had phoned his
friend Berlusconi to congratulate him and wish him further
success and health.
Sino-Europe Sports, part of the consortium which is
purchasing AC Milan from Berlusconi, also sent birthday wishes.
The communication manager for the group posted a picture of the
card it sent, with Berlusconi's name translated in Chinese and a
football field in the background.
The Italian media billionaire, leader of the opposition
centre-right Forza Italia (FI) party, continues to provoke
contrasting reactions among the Italian public - adored by
supporters and loathed by opponents.
His political career has been hampered by a series of
judicial problems and sex scandals and he was ejected from the
Senate after being definitively convicted of tax fraud in 2013.
Berlusconi, who is gradually returning to the political fray
after having heart surgery earlier this year, once said he was
the man most persecuted by magistrates in history.
In Italy, Berlusconi's party members praised him on
Thursday for his service to the country and politics.
"We want to renew our gratitude for all that you have done
over the long years, despite the sacrifices and effort, creating
a political path from scratch which chimed with millions of
Italians ," said Paolo Romani, President of Forza Italia
Senators.
The head of the party in the Lower House, Renato Brunetta,
also thanked the president for his contributions to the country
since he entered the political fray in 1994, romping home in
that year's general election.
"We have built important pieces of history and I am sure
that there is still a lot more to do ahead. Your guidance and
leadership remains vital and fundamental for Forza Italia and
for all the centre right," he said.
As well as his first 1994-95 government, which lasted
eight months, Berlusconi was also premier from 2001 to 2006 and
from 2008 to 2011.
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