New Italian Government Formed

With the formation of the new Italian government, which is seen as a movement against the existing order in this EU member country, the political deadlock has come to an end. According to AFP, Giuseppe Conte was sworn in on Friday, June 1, as the head of a populist government formed by the coalition of the Five Star Movement and the right-wing League party. The new government comes after the March elections in which there was no clear winner, leading to months of political instability in a country recognized as the third economic power in the European Union. AFP reports that reactions to the formation of the new Italian government have been varied and reflect concerns about the country's heavy debts and its future in the EU. The coalition government, which will go to the Italian Parliament next week for a vote of confidence, has promised to renegotiate treaties with the EU. In a move that indicates the direction of the new Italian government, Conte has appointed Matteo Salvini, the leader of the League party, known for his anti-immigration policies, as Minister of the Interior. Initially, he had considered Paolo Savona for the Ministry of Economy, who is seen as anti-EU, but faced opposition and a veto from the Italian President. Nevertheless, Savona will serve in the new cabinet as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for European Affairs. The new cabinet also includes Luigi Di Maio, leader of the Five Star Movement, as Minister of Economic Development, Labor, and Social Policies. Just a few days ago, it seemed that holding new elections in Italy was inevitable, but on Thursday, Sergio Mattarella, the President of Italy, appointed Conte as the new Prime Minister for the second time in two weeks. Giuseppe Conte, the 58th Prime Minister of Italy, has been a law professor at the universities of Florence and Luiss in Rome.