Italian PM Giuseppe Conte forms new coalition government
Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has revealed the composition of Italy's new coalition government backed by the Five Star Movement (M5S) and the Democratic Party (PD). Luigi Di Maio, leader of the Five Star Movement, will become Italy's new foreign minister, Conte said on Wednesday.
- World
- Agencies and A News
- Published Date: 05:45 | 04 September 2019
- Modified Date: 05:45 | 04 September 2019
The Italian presidential palace says Premier Giuseppe Conte has formed a new government, a coalition of the populist 5-Star Movement and left-leaning Democrats that shuts out of power right-wing leader Matteo Salvini.
Six days after President Sergio Mattarella tasked him with trying to form a new coalition, Conte reported back on Wednesday to say he succeeded.
His first, 14-month-old government collapsed last month when Salvini yanked his anti-migrant League party out of the populist coalition in a foiled bid to trigger early elections so he could gain the premiership himself.
DI MAIO BECOMES ITALY'S NEW FOREIGN MINISTER
Conte on Wednesday named Five Star Movement leader Luigi Di Maio as foreign minister and Roberto Gualtieri as finance minister in a new crisis-busting government.
Former deputy prime minister Di Maio, pro-European economist Gualtieri and the rest of the government will be sworn in on Thursday at 0800 GMT, ending a nearly month-long crisis.
Lawyer and former Milan security chief Luciana Lamorgese will take over from far-right leader Matteo Salvini, who prompted the crisis, as interior minister.
Deputy Democratic Party leader Lorenzo Guerini will be the new defence minister, Conte said.
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