Mario Draghi is appointed new Prime Minister of Italy, announces a political rainbow of cabinet preferences

Draghi, a leading economist, took the top role on Friday and later that day read out a list of ministerial choices designed to create buy-in from political parties that have competed on virtually every issue. However, many in Italy will be disappointed by the lack of women – out of 23 names, only eight are women.

Luigi Di Maio of the Five Star Movement’s anti-establishment movement is expected to continue as Italian Foreign Minister. Current Italian Health Minister Roberto Speranza, of the left-wing Free and Equal party, is also expected to remain in place.

Daniele Franco, the current Director General of the Bank of Italy who does not belong to any political party, has been hired as the new Finance Minister.

Three ministers belong to Go Italy, the party of former media mogul Silvio Berlusconi. Another three are from The League, the right-wing party led by Matteo Salvini that has declared itself vigorously anti-immigrant and anti-European in the past.

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In a TV interview, Salvini explained his participation in Draghi’s government. “Italians ask me to solve problems, even if it means working with people I don’t get along with,” he said.

Draghi does not belong to any political party himself. As a former chief of the European Central Bank, he won the nickname ‘Super Mario’ for saving the euro during Europe’s sovereign debt crisis, and will likely work closely with Franco, his finance minister, to draft a reform plan for Italy. making it 209 billion euros of the observed European recovery.

He succeeds former Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, who lost his ruling majority in the Senate over frustrations with the management of the Covid-19 pandemic and the accompanying economic recession.

Draghi’s ministers will have to formally swear in on Saturday for the new government to be fully functional, and the following week the confidence will be voted in parliament.

All Italian political parties, except the right-wing Brothers of Italy, have said they will support the new government.

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