Mario Draghi sworn in as prime minister of Italy’s unity government

Mario Draghi, a former head of the European Central Bank (ECB), was sworn in on Saturday as the head of Italy's new unity government.

His appointment as prime minister is aimed at ending more than four weeks of political crisis in the coronavirus-stricken nation.

The previous government of Giuseppe Conte collapsed after a falling out with a coalition ally over the use of funds from the European Union to recover from the coronavirus crisis.

Conte surrendered the palace, which functions as the seat of government, to Draghi in the afternoon, with the former premier's supporters clapping from the building's windows.

Draghi's new government line-up – representing a broad coalition that will in theory give him a large majority in parliament – still needs to be approved in a vote by lawmakers.

The vote of confidence by the parliament's two chambers is expected on Wednesday, with approval seen as likely.

The 73-year-old economist has said he will keep some important ministers from ex-prime minister Conte's Cabinet. The new Cabinet includes 15 ministers from parties in Conte's centre-left alliance and the opposition, who will be joined by eight experts.

Luigi Di Maio is to remain foreign minister and Roberto Speranza health minister.

According to Draghi's plan, Marta Cartabia, an expert, will fill the post of justice minister. Cartabia was president of the Constitutional Court until September 2020.

The previously much-discussed Ministry for Ecological Restructuring will also be filled by an expert, physicist Roberto Cingolani.

Daniele Franco, former head of the Italian central bank, is to occupy the position of finance minister, helping Draghi secure recovery funds in Brussels.

Draghi did not, however, nominate a new sports minister.

The designated Cabinet already met on Saturday for the first time.

Previously, Draghi had conducted intensive exploratory talks with party representatives in Rome. He received a surprising amount of support both from Conte's failed centre-left coalition and from the right-wing conservative opposition.

The government line-up has been positively received in the press, although not without some criticism about, for example, the fact that there are only eight women among the 23 ministers.

The La Repubblica newspaper urged Draghi to focus on two main tasks ahead: political reform and securing EU aid to the virus-stricken nation.

The government crisis – in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic – had dragged on since mid-January.

Draghi was tasked by Italian President Sergio Mattarella on February 3 with hammering out a new government under his leadership.

If confirmed, Draghi's will be the third government to lead the country since 2018.