This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-22327445
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| New Italian 'grand coalition' government sworn in | New Italian 'grand coalition' government sworn in |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A new Italian government has been sworn in at the presidential Quirinale Palace in Rome. | |
| Democratic Party Deputy Leader (PD), Enrico Letta, becomes prime minister at the head of a "grand coalition" including Silvio Berlusconi's People of Freedom party (PDL). | Democratic Party Deputy Leader (PD), Enrico Letta, becomes prime minister at the head of a "grand coalition" including Silvio Berlusconi's People of Freedom party (PDL). |
| The swearing-in signals the end of two months of political deadlock. | The swearing-in signals the end of two months of political deadlock. |
| Away from the ceremony, outside the PM's office, two police officers were injured in a shooting incident. | Away from the ceremony, outside the PM's office, two police officers were injured in a shooting incident. |
| One was shot in the neck and is described as being in a serious condition. The second suffered a serious wound to the leg. A pregnant woman was also slightly hurt. | One was shot in the neck and is described as being in a serious condition. The second suffered a serious wound to the leg. A pregnant woman was also slightly hurt. |
| A man, named as Luigi Preiti, has been arrested. | A man, named as Luigi Preiti, has been arrested. |
| Prosecutors said he had confessed to targeting politicians, angry that he had lost his job. | Prosecutors said he had confessed to targeting politicians, angry that he had lost his job. |
| Rome Prosecutor Pierfilippo Laviani said he "wanted to shoot politicians, but given that he couldn't reach any, he shot the Carabinieri". | Rome Prosecutor Pierfilippo Laviani said he "wanted to shoot politicians, but given that he couldn't reach any, he shot the Carabinieri". |
| The Mayor of Rome Gianni Alemanno said: "It's not an act of terrorism but certainly the [political] climate of the past few months has not helped." | The Mayor of Rome Gianni Alemanno said: "It's not an act of terrorism but certainly the [political] climate of the past few months has not helped." |
| Since February's inconclusive poll there has been political stalemate in Italy, which is still plagued by economic woes after becoming one of the first eurozone victims of the global financial crisis of 2008. | Since February's inconclusive poll there has been political stalemate in Italy, which is still plagued by economic woes after becoming one of the first eurozone victims of the global financial crisis of 2008. |
| The shooting happened about a kilometre (mile) away from the swearing-in ceremony, where, beginning with Mr Letta, the 21 new government ministers stepped forward one by one to receive the oath of office from President Giorgio Napolitano. | The shooting happened about a kilometre (mile) away from the swearing-in ceremony, where, beginning with Mr Letta, the 21 new government ministers stepped forward one by one to receive the oath of office from President Giorgio Napolitano. |
| Correspondents say the "grand coalition" between Italy's current main right- and left-wing parties is unprecedented, and will probably prove an uneasy alliance. | Correspondents say the "grand coalition" between Italy's current main right- and left-wing parties is unprecedented, and will probably prove an uneasy alliance. |
| Mr Berlusconi will not be a minister but had pushed for leading figures from his party to be given top posts. | Mr Berlusconi will not be a minister but had pushed for leading figures from his party to be given top posts. |
| Mr Alfano, the PDL's secretary and one of Mr Berlusconi's closest political allies, is deputy prime minister as well as interior minister in the new government. | Mr Alfano, the PDL's secretary and one of Mr Berlusconi's closest political allies, is deputy prime minister as well as interior minister in the new government. |
| Among the other key appointments are Bank of Italy director general Fabrizio Saccomanni to head the powerful economy ministry. | Among the other key appointments are Bank of Italy director general Fabrizio Saccomanni to head the powerful economy ministry. |
| Women prominent | Women prominent |
| The cabinet is to have more women than usual, including former European Commissioner Emma Bonino as foreign minister. | The cabinet is to have more women than usual, including former European Commissioner Emma Bonino as foreign minister. |
| Other women given government jobs include Olympic kayaker Josefa Idem who becomes minister of equal opportunity and sports, and Anna Maria Cancellieri at the ministry of justice. | Other women given government jobs include Olympic kayaker Josefa Idem who becomes minister of equal opportunity and sports, and Anna Maria Cancellieri at the ministry of justice. |
| The new minister of integration will be Cecile Kyenge, a doctor originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo. | The new minister of integration will be Cecile Kyenge, a doctor originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo. |
| President Napolitano said on Saturday that the government would have the support of both chambers of parliament. | President Napolitano said on Saturday that the government would have the support of both chambers of parliament. |
| "I hope that this government can get to work quickly in the spirit of fervent co-operation and without any prejudice or conflict," he said. | "I hope that this government can get to work quickly in the spirit of fervent co-operation and without any prejudice or conflict," he said. |
| "It was and is the only possible government." | "It was and is the only possible government." |
| The BBC's David Willey, in Rome, says the new government has to deal with a rapidly declining economic situation, rising unemployment - particularly among the under-35s - and lack of growth, despite some draconian austerity measures passed by the previous government of technocrats. | The BBC's David Willey, in Rome, says the new government has to deal with a rapidly declining economic situation, rising unemployment - particularly among the under-35s - and lack of growth, despite some draconian austerity measures passed by the previous government of technocrats. |
| 'Sober satisfaction' | 'Sober satisfaction' |
| Mr Letta, 46, is considered a moderate within the PD and is linked to Mr Berlusconi through his uncle, Gianni Letta, who is one of Mr Berlusconi's closest aides. | Mr Letta, 46, is considered a moderate within the PD and is linked to Mr Berlusconi through his uncle, Gianni Letta, who is one of Mr Berlusconi's closest aides. |
| Mr Berlusconi is still contesting charges of tax fraud and sex with an underage prostitute, but recent opinion polls suggest his popularity has increased, giving him greater bargaining power. | Mr Berlusconi is still contesting charges of tax fraud and sex with an underage prostitute, but recent opinion polls suggest his popularity has increased, giving him greater bargaining power. |
| Mr Letta expressed "sober satisfaction over the team we put together". | Mr Letta expressed "sober satisfaction over the team we put together". |
| His candidacy for prime minister emerged after the PD leader, Pier Luigi Bersani, announced his resignation following a party rebellion over his choice for Italian president and his refusal to work with Mr Berlusconi. | His candidacy for prime minister emerged after the PD leader, Pier Luigi Bersani, announced his resignation following a party rebellion over his choice for Italian president and his refusal to work with Mr Berlusconi. |
| The third strongest force to emerge from the Italian election, the Five Star movement led by former comedian, Beppe Grillo, has refused to take part in a coalition with the two main parties. | The third strongest force to emerge from the Italian election, the Five Star movement led by former comedian, Beppe Grillo, has refused to take part in a coalition with the two main parties. |
| President Napolitano, who is serving an unprecedented second term, has suggested he might resign if the new government fails to enact reforms. | President Napolitano, who is serving an unprecedented second term, has suggested he might resign if the new government fails to enact reforms. |