Italian Populist PM Nominee Begins Work On Forming Cabinet

(@FahadShabbir)

Italian populist PM nominee begins work on forming cabinet

Italy's prime ministerial nominee Giuseppe Conte on Thursday was locked in consultations to form a cabinet after being endorsed to lead a populist coalition government

Rome, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th May, 2018 ) :Italy's prime ministerial nominee Giuseppe Conte on Thursday was locked in consultations to form a cabinet after being endorsed to lead a populist coalition government.

Conte's appointment could herald an end to more than two months of political uncertainty in the eurozone's third-biggest economy but the coalition's eurosceptic and anti-immigrant stance has alarmed senior European officials.

President Sergio Mattarella on Wednesday approved Conte's nomination to be prime minister of a government formed by the anti-establishment Five Star Movement and the far-right League. Little-known lawyer Conte survived a battering in the press over claims he exaggerated his CV.

On Thursday he held meetings with delegations from political parties in order to put together the country's new government. According to the media he could present his cabinet to the president on Friday.

The list of ministerial candidates must be endorsed by Mattarella before it can seek parliamentary approval.

Italian media reported that League chief Matteo Salvini would become interior minister while Five Star leader Luigi Di Maio would be in charge of the economic development ministry.

Conte, 53, struck a conciliatory tone towards Europe when speaking to journalists at the presidential palace. "I'm aware of the necessity to confirm Italy's place, both in Europe and internationally," said the prime ministerial nominee, who cast himself as the "people's lawyer".

"My intent is to give life to a government of the people that looks after their interests. I'm ready to defend the interests of Italians in Europe and internationally, maintaining dialogue with European institutions and representatives of other countries." EU Economic Affairs Commissioner Pierre Moscovici said Thursday it was a "fairly good sign" that Conte had called for dialogue.

"I continue to believe Italy will remain a core country of the eurozone," he added.