Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, 83, tests positive for coronavirus

• Berlusconi is isolating at his Arcore residence near Milan, his office said
• Former PM was recently pictured with old friend, businessman Flavio Briatore
• Briatore tested positive last month, but Berlusconi tested negative at the time
• Comes after Berlusconi hit pages last month for his new 30-year-old girlfriend 

Former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi has tested positive for Covid-19 after a precautionary check, his press office said.

Mr Berlusconi is currently isolated at his Arcore residence near Milan, his office said, adding that he will continue to work from there as he completes the necessary quarantine period.

The three-time premier and media tycoon had been recently pictured with an old friend, businessman Flavio Briatore, who was hospitalised after testing positive for Covid-19 last month. Mr Berlusconi had tested negative at the time.

The notorious Lothario has recently made headlines after being photographed with his latest flame, 30-year-old Forza Italia MP, Marta Fascina. 

Silvio Berlusconi, leader of Forza Italia, at a party meeting in Rome in October 2019

The three-time premier and media tycoon had been recently pictured with an old friend, businessman Flavio Briatore (pictured together), who was hospitalised after testing positive for Covid-19 last month. Mr Berlusconi had tested negative at the time

Pictured: Marta Fascina, an MP from the Forzia Italia party, who is Berlusconi’s new girlfriend

Mr Berlusconi and the blonde were photographed walking hand-in-hand on the jetty at his Sardinian villa by a telephoto lens last month.

But Italian media have reported that Mr Berlusconi wanted the photos published to a settle a score with his former lover.  

Mr Berlusconi, who is twice previously married broke off his 10-year-long relationship with Francesca Pascale, 35, in March – reportedly for €20 million – before dating Ms Fascina, four years younger than Ms Pascale.

But Ms Pascale unexpectedly made the front pages when she was snapped sunbathing topless and kissing Paola Turci, 55, a pop star, on a yacht.

The pictures of Mr Berlusconi came just days after his ex-fiancee stole the limelight with her new romantic partner.

Mr Berlusconi, who is twice previously married broke off his 10-year-long relationship with Francesca Pascale, 35, in March – reportedly for €20 million – before dating Ms Fascina, four years younger than Ms Pascale (pictured together in 2017)

Ms Pascale had unexpectedly made the front pages when she was snapped sunbathing topless and kissing Paola Turci (pictured), 55, a pop star, on a yacht

‘He knew full well he can been seen by paparazzi when he steps on to that jetty,’ Livio Colombo, deputy editor of the magazine Oggi, told The Times.

‘[Marta] Fascina is wearing a dress straight out of a bucolic painting from a century ago, suggesting she and Berlusconi wanted to look old-fashioned in response to [Francesca] Pascale’s “modern” relationship with another woman.’ 

Mr Berlusconi has recently gained new attention on Italy’s political scene ahead of regional elections in late September, when his centrist Forza Italia party could prove crucial for a possible win of the centre-right opposition. 

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