The leader of the Brothers of Italy (far right), Giorgia Meloni, was sworn in this Saturday as prime minister, becoming the first woman to assume this position in the country’s history.
“I swear to be faithful to the Republic, to faithfully comply with the Constitution and the laws and to exercise my mandate and my functions in the exclusive interest of the nation,” Meloni said before the President of the Republic, in a ceremony that took place in the Sala of Festas do Palácio do Quirinal in Rome.
Giorgia Meloni then signed the decree of her appointment and greeted the President of the Republic, Sérgio Mattarella, standing to his left to preside over the swearing-in of his 24 ministers.
The first to do so were its two vice presidents, Matteo Salvini and Antonio Tajani, leaders, respectively, of the far-right Liga and the conservative Força Italia, the two parties of the right-wing coalition that won the September 25 elections. .
Salvini will also be responsible for Infrastructure and Sustainable Mobility, while Tajano will be responsible for Foreign Affairs.
The oath was attended by all the ministers and, as required by protocol, the Undersecretary of the Presidency of the Government, Alfredo Mantovano, one of the most influential positions in the executive and who will take office during the first Council of Ministers, which will take place on Sunday. .
Of the total of 24 ministries and one Undersecretary of the Presidency (Alfredo Mantovano) of the Meloni government, eight will be for his party, four for the League and six for Força Italia, while six will be occupied by technicians.
The transfer of power between Draghi and Meloni will take place on Sunday at 08:30 GMT (09:30 GMT) at the Chigi Palace, the seat of government, followed by the first council of ministers.
Meloni, a notorious eurosceptic, has given up campaigning for Italy’s exit from the euro, but has vowed to further defend her country’s interests in Brussels, at a time when growth depends on nearly €200 billion in subsidies and EU loans to Italy, as part of its covid-19 post-pandemic recovery fund.
Source: TSF
