Far-right Meloni officially takes over as Italy’s first female PM

Rome, Oct 23 (EFE).- Giorgia Meloni is formally taking over as Italy’s first female prime minister on Sunday in a ceremony loaded with symbolism a day after she was sworn into office.

The handover of power takes place in Rome’s Chigi Palace, Italy’s seat of the Council of Ministers and the PM’s official residence, where outgoing Mario Draghi will hand over a small bell to the head of the far-right Brothers of Italy party. The bell is used by cabinet leaders to launch government meetings.

Meloni is also hosting her first cabinet meeting as Italy’s leader and is to approve the appointment of conservative Alfredo Mantovano as undersecretary to the PM.

Meloni was sworn into office on Saturday before Italy’s president Sergio Mattarella after winning the general elections with another two right-wing parties on September 25.

The new government is made up of a coalition with the former interior minister and hard-right Lega Nord party leader Matteo Salvini, and Antonio Tajani of the conservative Forza Italia.

Tajani has been made foreign minister and Salvini will serve as minister of infrastructure and sustainable mobility.

The official launch of the Meloni government will take place with an investiture of parliament, which in this case is just a formality given the parliamentary majority the right-wing bloc garnered in the recent elections.EFE

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