New gov’t forged in Italy

ROME (AFP) — Italy’s populist parties will be sworn in to power today in Rome after they reached a new coalition deal, narrowly avoiding snap elections and setting in motion an anti-austerity government in the eurozone’s third largest economy.

On Thursday evening, President Sergio Mattarella gave a mandate for the second time to Giuseppe Conte — the populists’ pick for prime minister.

Italy has been in the throes of political uncertainty for almost three months after inconclusive March elections, rocking financial markets and spreading unease among its euro partners.

Conte — a little known lawyer and political novice — announced his picks for the country’s future Cabinet after meeting with Mattarella.

From the coalition, farright League leader Matteo Salvini was named interior minister while Five Star Movement leader Luigi Di Maio is slated to become minister for economic development.

Paolo Savona, the eurosceptic economist who the populist coalition originally wanted for economy minister but rejected by Mattarella, is still part of the Cabinet as European Affairs minister.

The role of economy minister was given to the less controversial Giovanni Tria, a political economist who advocates slashing taxes but is in favor of keeping Italy in the euro.