Italy forms new coalition government

Giuseppe Conte remains premier, Five Star leader Luigi Di Maio gets Foreign Ministry

By Baris Seckin

ROME (AA) - Italy’s Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte formed a coalition government on Wednesday ending a month-long crisis in the country.

Conte, who last week got a fresh mandate from President Sergio Mattarella to form a government, announced a coalition of the populist Five Star Movement and center-left Democratic Party (PD), while shutting out of power right-wing leader Matteo Salvini.

Following the meeting with the president, Conte told reporters details of the new Cabinet.

The list includes 10 ministers from Five Star, nine from PD, and one from the far-left Free and Equal party.

Luigi Di Maio, leader of Five Star, was appointed foreign minister.

Lorenzo Guerini of PD will take up the role of defense minister.

The Interior Ministry will go to Luciana Lamorgese, the former governor of Milan.

The new government will be sworn in on Thursday.

* Writing by Jeyhun Aliyev

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