Mario Draghi has been sworn in as Italy’s new prime minister after forming a national unity government that faces the tough task of marshalling a recovery from the Covid-19 crisis.
On Feb 12 Draghi, a former president of the European Central Bank, was officially appointed by Sergio Mattarella, Italy’s head of state, in a ceremony held in the Italian presidential palace in Rome.
Draghi becomes Italy’s 30th prime minister since the birth of the republic in 1946 and, having won the backing of almost every large Italian party, will lead a mixed government of made up of a number of technocrats in central roles as well as politicians.
Daniele Franco, Bank of Italy director-general, is Italy’s new economy minister, and Vittorio Colao, former Vodafone chief executive, has been appointed as innovation and technology minister. Marta Cartabia, former president of Italy’s Constitutional Court, has been named as justice minister.
Significant continuity has also been kept with ministers from the outgoing government of Giuseppe Conte, with Luigi Di Maio of the Five Star Movement remaining as foreign minister, and the non-affiliated Luciana Lamorgese staying as interior minister. Roberto Speranza, currently health minister, will also remain in post.
Out of a cabinet of 25, including Draghi, 15 are from the parties that will back the coalition in the parliament, and ten are non-politicians. The party with the largest representation is the formerly anti-establishment Five Star Movement with four ministers, while Silvio Berlusconi’s rightwing Forza Italia party makes a return to government for the first time since 2012 with three.