His former prime minister Italy, Silvio Berlusconistayed for a second night in the intensive care unit of the San Raffaele hospital in Milan and, according to Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, is calm and responding positively to treatment.

The 86-year-old billionaire was rushed to hospital on Wednesday, raising concerns about his fragile health.

Berlusconi has long been suffering from blood cancer and is in intensive care due to a lung infection, his doctors said on Thursday.

Tajani, who is also a political ally of Berlusconi, told Italian state television that he had spoken to the former prime minister’s personal doctor and the photo he showed him was more reassuring.

“He told me that he slept well, that he was undergoing intensive treatment and responding well,” said the Italian foreign minister. “This gives us reason for optimism. [Ο Μπερλουσκόνι] he is a lion and has a strong body. We want to be optimistic,” he added.

Berlusconi’s Forza Italia party is part of Georgia Prime Minister Meloni’s right-wing coalition, although it does not play a direct role in her government.

At Forza Italia, “we follow the course of the disease with friendship and love. I hope he recovers as soon as possible,” Tajani said.

Both Meloni and Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini said on Thursday they had spoken to Berlusconi by phone.

Forza Italia reported that Berlusconi also held talks with some senior party officials.

“That was the best phone call I could get,” said Salvini, who heads the Anti-Immigration League.

^{Source: Reuters.}

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