Italy's new PM unveils cabinet

Italy's newly-appointed Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni unveiled his cabinet on Monday.

After a quick round of consultations with parliamentary forces, he met with Italian President Sergio Mattarella late Monday afternoon to hand in the list of 18 new ministers, Xinhua news agency reported.

Gentiloni, 62, was given the mandate on Sunday to form a transitional government, following the resignation of Matteo Renzi from the post on December 7.

As announced, he moved within the framework of the previous centre-left government's majority in parliament, since all opposition forces were not available to take part in the new cabinet.

Several key figures were confirmed in their office, including Economy Minister Pier Carlo Padoan, Defence Minister Roberta Pinotti, Minister of Justice Andrea Orlando, Minister of Labour Giuliano Poletti, and Minister of Economic Development Carlo Calenda.

Leader of the New Centre Right (NCD) party Angelino Alfano, who was Interior Minister in the outgoing cabinet, would now serve as Foreign Minister.

Alfano will be replaced as Interior Minister by Marco Minniti from the Democratic Party (PD), the majority force in parliament to which Gentiloni belongs.

The new cabinet would be sworn in at the Quirinale presidential palace at 8 p.m. local time on Monday, the President's office stated.

Then, it will ask for a confidence vote in both the senate and the lower house.

--IANS

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