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| Italy cabinet poised for office | Italy cabinet poised for office |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The new centre-right cabinet of Italian Prime Minister-elect Silvio Berlusconi is preparing to be sworn in as the country's 62nd post-war government. | The new centre-right cabinet of Italian Prime Minister-elect Silvio Berlusconi is preparing to be sworn in as the country's 62nd post-war government. |
| The 71-year-old's line-up returns loyalists to posts held in previous governments and offers fresh faces. | The 71-year-old's line-up returns loyalists to posts held in previous governments and offers fresh faces. |
| Giulio Tremonti becomes finance minister for the third time, tasked with reviving Italy's stagnant economy. | Giulio Tremonti becomes finance minister for the third time, tasked with reviving Italy's stagnant economy. |
| Once the 21-member cabinet officially takes office later on Thursday it will | |
| face a confidence vote in parliament. | |
| Mr Berlusconi has appointed members of both the People of Freedom party - a merger between his Forza Italia party and the post-fascist National Alliance (AN) - and the Northern League to key portfolios. | Mr Berlusconi has appointed members of both the People of Freedom party - a merger between his Forza Italia party and the post-fascist National Alliance (AN) - and the Northern League to key portfolios. |
| 'Unknown quantities' | 'Unknown quantities' |
| Correspondents say the new government's most pressing challenges include breathing new life into Italy's ailing economy and finding a solution to the untreated rubbish mountains in Naples. | Correspondents say the new government's most pressing challenges include breathing new life into Italy's ailing economy and finding a solution to the untreated rubbish mountains in Naples. |
| Mr Berlusconi's closest aide, Gianni Letta, returns to his previous job of cabinet under-secretary. Another aide, Sandro Bondi, will be culture minister. | Mr Berlusconi's closest aide, Gianni Letta, returns to his previous job of cabinet under-secretary. Another aide, Sandro Bondi, will be culture minister. |
| NEW ITALIAN CABINET Prime Minister: Silvio BerlusconiForeign affairs: Franco FrattiniInterior: Roberto MaroniJustice: Angelino AlfanoEconomy: Giulio TremontiDefence: Ignazio La RussaEconomic development: Claudio ScajolaEducation: Maria Stella GelminiAgriculture: Luca ZaiaEnvironment: Stefania PrestigiacomoInfrastructure: Altero MatteoliHealth and labour: Maurizio SacconiCulture: Sandro BondiFederalist reforms: Umberto Bossi | NEW ITALIAN CABINET Prime Minister: Silvio BerlusconiForeign affairs: Franco FrattiniInterior: Roberto MaroniJustice: Angelino AlfanoEconomy: Giulio TremontiDefence: Ignazio La RussaEconomic development: Claudio ScajolaEducation: Maria Stella GelminiAgriculture: Luca ZaiaEnvironment: Stefania PrestigiacomoInfrastructure: Altero MatteoliHealth and labour: Maurizio SacconiCulture: Sandro BondiFederalist reforms: Umberto Bossi |
| "It's a mixed bag," said political analyst Robert Leonardi of the London School of Economics, commenting on the cabinet line-up. | "It's a mixed bag," said political analyst Robert Leonardi of the London School of Economics, commenting on the cabinet line-up. |
| "On the one hand there are a number of people who we've seen before - the usual suspects - but there are also a number of new people, some of whom are unknown quantities," he said. | "On the one hand there are a number of people who we've seen before - the usual suspects - but there are also a number of new people, some of whom are unknown quantities," he said. |
| In the Corriere della Sera newspaper, columnist Massimo Franco writes: "He has created a government in his own vision and likeness, and this is a huge opportunity and responsibility." | In the Corriere della Sera newspaper, columnist Massimo Franco writes: "He has created a government in his own vision and likeness, and this is a huge opportunity and responsibility." |
| Umberto Bossi, the firebrand leader of the anti-immigrant Northern League party, has been given the powerful reforms portfolio. | Umberto Bossi, the firebrand leader of the anti-immigrant Northern League party, has been given the powerful reforms portfolio. |
| Another senior Northern League official, Roberto Maroni, will be the country's new interior minister. | Another senior Northern League official, Roberto Maroni, will be the country's new interior minister. |
| Their party colleague, Roberto Calderoli, whose provocative comments on Islam have sparked anger in Italy and Libya, has been made minister of "legislative simplification". | Their party colleague, Roberto Calderoli, whose provocative comments on Islam have sparked anger in Italy and Libya, has been made minister of "legislative simplification". |
| "They just invented a new ministry without portfolio to get him into cabinet without giving him anything delicate," Mr Leonardi said. | "They just invented a new ministry without portfolio to get him into cabinet without giving him anything delicate," Mr Leonardi said. |