ROME (MCT) — Italy’s new government led by Prime Minister Mario Monti was sworn in on Wednesday — in a move welcomed by the country’s main European Union partners.
Monti and the other 16 members of his Cabinet took their oaths of allegiance before President Giorgio Napolitano.
Monti is scheduled to unveil details of the government’s program Thursday during a parliament debate scheduled to begin in the early afternoon.
Following Thursday’s debate, the new government will have to be approved by the two houses of parliament — the upper Senate and the lower Chamber of Deputies which are scheduled to hold confidence votes on Thursday and Friday, respectively.
Napolitano asked Monti to form a government to replace the one lead by Berlusconi, who resigned on Saturday as premier after parliament approved EU-mandated austerity measures.
At 120.5 per cent of gross domestic product, Italy’s debt level is twice what is required under the Maastricht Treaty for eurozone members.
