New Italian PM nominee begins work on forming cabinet

A little-known lawyer charged with forming Italy's next Italian government -- after over two months of political uncertainty -- will on today begin work on his cabinet.

Italy's president yesterday approved Giuseppe Conte's nomination to be prime minister of a government formed by the anti-establishment Five Star Movement and the far-right League.

Conte, who hails from Five Star, said that he would present President Sergio Mattarella with his cabinet, which has been the subject of days of tough negotiations between Five Star and the League, within "the next few days".

The list of ministerial candidates must be endorsed by Mattarella before it can seek parliamentary approval.

Italian media reported that League chief Matteo Salvini would become interior minister while Five Star leader Luigi Di Maio would be in charge of the economic development ministry.

"The President of the Republic has tasked me with the role of forming a government," Conte told reporters on Wednesday evening after a nearly two-hour meeting with President Mattarella.

Conte's appointment could herald an end to the political limbo in the eurozone's third-biggest economy -- but the coalition's eurosceptic and anti-immigrant stance has alarmed senior European officials.

However, 53-year-old Conte, unveiled Monday as anti-establishment Five Star Movement and nationalist League's pick for premier, sought a more conciliatory tone towards Europe when speaking to journalists at the presidential Quirinal palace.

"I'm aware of the necessity to confirm Italy's place, both in Europe and internationally," said Conte, who cast himself as the "people's lawyer".

"My intent is to give life to a government of the people that looks after their interests. I'm ready to defend the interests of Italians in Europe and internationally, maintaining dialogue with European institutions and representatives of other countries."