Italian president Sergio Mattarella has given a mandate to Giuseppe Conte to become prime minister of a coalition of far-right League and anti-establishment 5-Star movement.
Italian President Sergio Mattarella has given Giuseppe Conte a mandate to become prime minister of a coalition put together by the far-right League and anti-establishment 5-Star Movement, according to officials.
The 53 year old law professor and political novice is expected to return to the Quirinale Palace in Rome in the next days with the full list of names that will form his cabinet. Conte made the point that he was fully conscious of the challenges facing his country:
"I'm aware of the need to confirm Italy's European and international stance. The government will imediately have to deal with the ongoing negotiations on the topics of the European budget, the reform of asylum rights, and the completion of the banking union," he said following his meeting with President Mattarella.