Hard-right Meloni sworn in as Italy’s first female PM

Rome, Oct 22 (EFE).- Giorgia Meloni, leader of the far right Brothers of Italy party, was sworn in on Saturday as Italy’s first female prime minister at the historic Quirinal Palace in Rome.

The official ceremony in the baroque palace perched atop the Italian capital saw forty-five year old Meloni assume her role as premier in a ceremony where she accepted a mandate from President Sergio Mattarella to form a new government.

“I swear to be faithful to the Republic, to loyally comply with the Constitution and laws and to exercise my mandate and my functions in the exclusive interest of the nation,” she said after taking the oath of office in the ceremonial halls of the Roman Palace.

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

The coalition government’s 24 ministers were also sworn in.

Meloni’s government is formed by the three right-wing parties that won the general elections on September 25.

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

On Sunday, the transfer of powers will be staged with outgoing premier Mario Draghi, where Meloni will preside over the council of ministers for the first time.

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 garnered in the recent elections.EFE

gsm/ch