ITALY’S FAR-RIGHT LEADER MELONI FORMS NEW GOVT

ROME: Giorgia Meloni on Friday formed Italy’s new ruling coalition, giving the country its first far-right-led government since the end of World War II and becoming the first woman tapped to serve as the country’s premier.

A presidential palace official announced that Meloni and her Cabinet would be sworn in on Saturday. Meloni’s Brothers of Italy, a party with neo-fascist roots, was the top vote-getter in Italy’s national election last month.

A few hours before the new government’s formation was announced, Meloni, 45, said that she and her allies had asked President Sergio Mattarella to give her the mandate to govern. She has named Giancarlo Giorgetti of the League party as economy minister and said the foreign ministry will go to Antonio Tajani from Forza Italia.