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This Thursday has officially started the new Italian Government formed by the Democratic Party and the Five Star Movement, headed by Giuseppe Conte, who repeats as prime minister. The members of the Council of Ministers have sworn their positions before the president of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, in the Quirinal Palace. Before entering into full operation, the Executive must receive the confidence of the two houses of Parliament next week. A procedure that is taken for granted despite the fact that in the Senate the coalition enjoys a narrow majority.

With an average age of 47, it is one of the youngest governments in Italian history but not the most egalitarian: only seven of the 21 ministers are women. The members of the Executive, formed by 10 exponents of the Five Stars, nine of the PD, a representative of the small party of Free and Equal lefts and an independent technician who will replace Matteo Salvini in the Ministry of Interior, pledged before the head of State to be faithful to the Republic, "loyally observe the Constitution and laws" and exercise their functions "in the exclusive interest of the nation", as the traditional formula marks.

Just a month after the League leader, Matteo Salvini, dynamited the government coalition with the Five Star Movement and caused an unexpected political crisis in the middle of summer, the new parliamentary majority reached by two historic enemies takes its first steps. This Thursday, the newly formed Council of Ministers met for the first time to elect Paolo Gentiloni as Italian candidate for European commissioner. "It is a responsibility that honors me," said the former PM Prime Minister.

The appointment of Gentiloni as a candidate from Italy to be part of the team of the president of the European Commission, Ursula Von Der Leyen, and above all, the election of the new transalpine minister of Economy, Roberto Gualtieri, demonstrate, according to analysts, the will of the Government of building bridges with the EU and closing the open gap between the European institutions and the previous government coalition, which maintained a constant pulse with Brussels.

Roberto Gualtieri, who replaces Giovanni Tria as head of Italian finance, is a highly respected personality in Brussels. PD MEP since 2009, headed the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs of the European Parliament, becoming an influential figure in the 2018 negotiations to make European rules on public aid more flexible to rescue banks.

The new Executive has been well received by the main European leaders. If on Wednesday the new president of the European Central Bank (ECB), Christine Lagarde, celebrated the appointment of Gualtieri as the new Italian Minister of Economy, this Thursday was the vice president of the EU, Frans Timmermans, who expressed his satisfaction for the spirit Europeanist of the new Italian Government, "clearly committed to finding common solutions with the rest of the EU".

The markets have also welcomed the new Executive with open arms. Yesterday, shortly after the composition of the cabinet was known, the Italian risk premium fell to 150 points after having exceeded 200 in recent weeks.

Meanwhile, the center-right, led by Matteo Salvini, announced that it will not give truce to the Government. "Opposition in Parliament, in town halls and in squares. I do not give up. Before the honor that the ministries," said the leader of the League. "The government of armchairs, recycled and strong European powers will not have a long life," he said.

The former vice president of the Government, who has lost the power he enjoyed until just a month ago, faces a new judicial problem as a result of his controversial management at the head of the Ministry of Interior. Salvini is being investigated for defamation following the complaint lodged by the ship's captain of the German NGO Sea Watch.

Carola Rackete filed a complaint against Salvini last July in which he accused the then minister of "aggravated defamation" and "instigation to commit crimes" for the insults and threats received by the young woman after forcing the humanitarian ship into Lampedusa port in June to disembark 40 migrants who had been rescued two weeks earlier in the Mediterranean. "For me, it's a medal," said the leader of the League.

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  • Matteo Salvini
  • European Parliament
  • European Comission
  • European Union
  • Christine Lagarde
  • Ursula von der Leyen
  • Frans Timmermans
  • Sergio Mattarella
  • Free and Equal
  • Italy
  • European Central Bank

Migration The 29 minors will be able to disembark today from the Open Arms, in whose interior "security is not guaranteed"

Immigration The Government does not even intercede with the EU in favor of Open Arms

Italy The Open Arms, with 121 migrants on board, hopes to dock in Lampedusa