Formation of a government in Italy: consultation with head of state Mattarella begins That means the state of war declared by Putin

In Italy, talks on forming a government officially begin this Thursday. President Sergio Mattarella wants to receive the newly elected presidents of the bicameral parliament Ignazio La Russa (Senate) and Lorenzo Fontana (Chamber of Deputies) in the morning at his official residence in Rome, the Quirinale Palace announced on Wednesday evening. The delegations of other parties will follow later.

According to the plan, the far-right Fratelli d’Italia of Giorgia Meloni, the conservative Forza Italia and the right-wing populist Lega, who want to form a government together with an absolute majority in parliament, will arrive on Friday.

Mattarella plays an important role when he appoints a person to form the government. That should be the election winner and favorite for Prime Minister Meloni’s office. If their negotiations go well, Mattarella could swear by a cabinet and, for the first time in the Republic’s history, a woman as prime minister this weekend.

Meloni would then chair a first session at her new official residence, Palazzo Chigi, and inaugurate her government. Her cabinet must be confirmed by a vote of confidence in parliament within ten days.

In political Rome, the legal alliance has been discussing the distribution of ministerial posts for some time now. Observers therefore expect short consultations on the formation of a government. However, according to media reports, the occupation of the Ministry of Justice was a major point of contention between Fratelli’s Forza Italia and Silvio Berlusconi. Berlusconi, who has yet to answer to court for his ‘bunga-bunga parties’, wants former Senate leader Maria Elisabetta Casellati from his party as justice minister. Meloni wants a Fratelli politician in office. (sda/dpa)