Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi tested positive for COVID-19 after a vacation on the Mediterranean island of Sardinia, his staff announced Wednesday. The 83-year-old is currently in isolation at his home near Milan.

Sardinia is a popular summer vacation spot for Italians. Vacationers returning from Sardinia to mainland Italy have caused cases to surge in the southern European nation.

Berlusconi’s staff said the former prime minister would continue to support candidates of his center-right Forza Italia party ahead of local elections planned for later this month.

Berlusconi served as prime minister for nine years in total over his political career, and was known for his populist political views. Although Berlusconi has described himself as liberal and moderate, he has made controversial statements praising former Italian dictator Benito Mussolini.

While in office, Berlusconi had warm relationships with leaders such as Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He was also an ally of former President George W. Bush, due to his support for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Berlusconi has been involved in over 20 court cases during his political career. In 2013, he was sentenced to seven years in jail and banned from public office after being convicted of paying an underage prostitute for sex, but an appeals court overturned his conviction in 2014.

Berlusconi is the founder of the holding firm Fininvest, which owns a large stake in Italian mass media company Mediaset. According to Forbes, he has a net worth of $6.5 billion.

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