Rome, SAEDNEWS, Feb. 13: Mario Draghi is due to be sworn in as Italy's new prime minister later today, bringing in a new era in Italian politics. The former European Central Bank chief and his cabinet of ministers will join the swearing-in ceremony from noon at the Quirinal Palace in Rome. It will be specifically held in the Salone delle festa - but attendance will be limited to comply with coronavirus restrictions.
Draghi's new administration will then take office next week after winning the approval of both houses of the Italian parliament. The vote of confidence should be a formality after a majority of lawmakers indicated they would support him.
In his cabinet, is a mix of technocrats, including the Bank of Italy's deputy governor Daniele Franco, and politicians from various parties.
Italy's government crisis was triggered last month when former prime minister Matteo Renzi's Italia Viva party withdrew its support from the coalition — which also comprised the left-wing populist Five Star Movement (MS5), the centre-right Democratic Party (PD) and a left-wing parliamentary group.
Although Italia Viva currently polls at around 3 per cent, its lawmakers were crucial to Conte, a lawyer who was first nominated prime minister in June 2018 by the coalition formed by MS5 and the far-right League party.
Conte resigned after surviving two confidence votes in the hope of being able to form a new coalition but failed.
Mattarella, who had previously said he is against calling new elections in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, then called on Draghi, 73, to try to form a coalition (Source: Euronews).
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