Italy's newly PM expected to announce cabinet

The newly nominated Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni is expected to announce his cabinet later on Monday, media reports said.

Gentiloni, 62, was named Prime Minister by President Sergio Mattarella on Sunday and was asked to form a transitional government, following the resignation of Matteo Renzi.

A few changes in the list of ministers would be expected, compared to the outgoing Renzi's centre-left government, since Gentiloni can rely on the same majority in Parliament, Xinhua news agency reported.

Gentiloni has been holding talks with all parliamentary groups since Sunday evening, but opposition Five Star Movement (M5S) and Northern League have both refused to hold consultation with him.

Gentiloni would conclude his consultation in early afternoon with the representatives of the centre-left Democratic Party, the largest force in Parliament, and then go to the Quirinale presidential palace to hand over a list of the ministers.

The new government would then be sworn in and it would then have to ask for a confidence vote in both the Senate and the lower house.

If this happens timely, Gentiloni would be able to represent Italy at the next European Union (EU) Council scheduled for December 15.

--IANS

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