Meloni is sworn in as Italy's first female prime minister
Meloni's government faces a series of daunting challenges.
Reuters
Georgia Meloni became Italy's first woman prime minister after she and her cabinet members were sworn in yesterday, ushering in the most right-wing government since World War II.
Meloni, 45, heads the nationalist Brothers of Italy party, and won the elections last month as part of an alliance of conservative parties that includes Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia and Matteo Salvini's League.
Meloni's government succeeded a national unity government headed by former European Central Bank President Mario Draghi.
It faces a series of daunting challenges, notably a looming recession, rising energy bills, and how to present a united front against the war in Ukraine.
And despite Meloni's pledge of support for Ukraine, Berlusconi has been undermining that position. Last week, he blamed Kyiv and said he exchanged gifts and sweet letters with his longtime friend, Russian President Vladimir Putin.
After days of mostly tense and behind-the-scenes talks, Meloni announced the names of her cabinet members and assigned five ministries to each of her two junior coalition partners.
Technocrats make up the rest of the government's team of 24 officials, of whom only six are women.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen congratulated Meloni on her appointment as the first woman to hold this position, and said she looked forward to constructive cooperation with her government.
European Council President Charles Michel expressed his readiness to work with Meloni for the benefit of Italy and the European Union.
The list of ministers reflects Meloni's desire to reassure Rome's partners, as the former President of the European Parliament, Antonio Tajani of Forza Italia, was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Giancarlo Giorgetti, representative of the moderate wing of the League, took over the economy portfolio.
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