International - Globescan   

Prodi sworn in Italian Premier

Vaiju Naravane

Paris: After a long night of negotiations, Italy's new Prime Minister Romano Prodi announced his Government in the early hours of the morning on Wednesday. The names were presented to the country's new President Georgio Napolitano at noon and Mr Prodi was formally sworn in as Prime Minister late afternoon on Wednesday. Massimo d'Alema, the leader of the largest party in the centre-left coalition, whose candidature for the presidency was rejected because of his communist past, will be the new Foreign Minister. He will also serve as one of two Deputy Prime Ministers. The all important economy portfolio has been given to a former member of the European central Bank, Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa, known to be a ruthless and efficient manager. Italy needs to put its finances back in shape. The country had a zero growth rate last year and is generally referred to as the "sick man of Europe", because of its high national debt. It was not easy for Mr. Prodi to please all his coalition partners and questions are being asked as to how long his Government would last as haggling within his nine-party coalition over key ministerial posts appeared to confirm its fragility.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

"Da Vinci Code" fails to impress
Iran terms E.U.'s package childish
Villepin defeats no-trust motion
Water, by the shipload
A complex parting of ways
Chinese, Arab leaders to discuss new partnership
Prodi sworn in Italian Premier
Typhoon disrupts Hong Kong traffic
Pakistan denies media reports
For a concert in Singapore

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu