Prime Ministers of Italy

New Italy PM to unveil programme amid market cheer

Agence France-PresseApril 29, 2013 06:45

Italy's new Prime Minister Enrico Letta was set to unveil his coalition government's programme on Monday under the watchful gaze of European partners and amid optimism among international investors. The recession-hit country, which had been effectively rudderless since an inconclusive election in February, faces pressure to act fast to tackle social, economic and institutional ills. Buoyed up by the new leadership, Italy aced its first market test at a five and ten-year bond auction, paying significantly lower rates to raise six billion euros ($4.58 billion).

New Italy PM to unveil programme for change

Agence France-PresseApril 29, 2013 05:30

Italy's new Prime Minister Enrico Letta was set to unveil his coalition government's programme on Monday, under the watchful gaze of international markets and European partners. The recession-hit country, which had been effectively rudderless since an inconclusive election in February, is under pressure to act fast to tackle social, economic and institutional ills. Letta, a 46-year-old moderate from the centre-left Democratic Party, is expected to address parliament at 1300 GMT.

New Italy PM to unveil programme for change

Agence France-PresseApril 28, 2013 23:30

Italy's new Prime Minister Enrico Letta was set to unveil his coalition government's programme on Monday, under the watchful gaze of international markets and European partners. The recession-hit country, which had been left effectively without a government for over two months by an inconclusive election in February, is under pressure to act fast to tackle social, economic and institutional ills.

Italy cabinet swearing-in marred by shooting

Agence France-PresseApril 28, 2013 15:30

Italy's new coalition government was sworn in on Sunday, but a ceremony symbolising a fresh start for the recession-wracked country was overshadowed by a shooting outside government headquarters. As Prime Minister Enrico Letta and his 21 ministers took the oath of office in the presidential palace, an unemployed man about a kilometre away opened fire on policemen guarding the headquarters, wounding two and sparking fear among tourists.

Three hurt in shooting as new Italy government sworn in

Agence France-PresseApril 28, 2013 08:01

An apparently disturbed businessman opened fire on policemen outside Italian government headquarters in Rome on Sunday just as the country's new coalition cabinet was being sworn in. Two policemen were wounded, as well as a passerby, in the shooting which occurred about a kilometre away from the presidential palace where Prime Minister Enrico Letta and his ministers were taking the oath of office.

Enrico Letta: Child prodigy of Italian politics

Agence France-PresseApril 28, 2013 08:00

Enrico Letta, who was sworn in as Italy's prime minister on Sunday, is a convinced Europhile who at 46 already has extensive government experience, but provides a fresh face to a tired and discredited political scene. The deputy leader of the leftist Democratic Party's age counted in his favour amid calls for generational turnover in Italian politics as bickering rivals struggled for two months to form a government.

Italy to swear in new government after deadlock

Agence France-PresseApril 28, 2013 04:45

Italy's new coalition government is to be sworn in on Sunday, bringing fresh hope to a country mired in recession after two months of bitter post-election deadlock watched closely by European partners. Prime Minister Enrico Letta is expected to be the first to take the oath of office at a ceremony led by President Giorgio Napolitano, who appointed him after the centre-left won February elections but without the majority needed to govern. The ceremony was set to begin at 0930 GMT in Rome.

Italy's leftist Letta has new government in his sights

Agence France-PresseApril 27, 2013 05:15

Italian leftist Enrico Letta was expected to reveal Saturday whether he has succeeded in uniting the country's feuding parties and persuading the old guard to step aside for a government of fresh talent. The moderate Letta, who has led two days of consultations with the parties in a bid to form a coalition, was said by sources close to his staff to be on the point of persuading the bickering left and right to work together.

Italy's leftist Letta has new government in his sights

Agence France-PresseApril 26, 2013 23:31

Italian leftist Enrico Letta was expected to reveal Saturday whether he has succeeded in uniting the eurozone heavyweight's feuding parties or needs more time to end a two-month political stalemate. The moderate Letta, who has led two days of consultations with the parties in a bid to form a coalition government, was said by sources close to his staff to be on the point of persuading the bickering left and right to work together.

Italy's Letta scrambles to put together coalition

Agence France-PresseApril 26, 2013 08:31

Italy's prime minister-designate Enrico Letta scrambled on Friday to put together a coalition to end a two-month deadlock as stocks fell in a sign of growing investor impatience. The Milan stock market was down 0.70 percent in afternoon trading as earlier hopes that Letta would unveil his coalition on Friday fell through. The government is expected to be sworn in on Saturday, Italian news agency ANSA reported, citing sources in Letta's staff.