Berlusconi Sworn In ... Again
Silvio Berlusconi was sworn in as Italy's premier on Monday, heading a Cabinet that includes Umberto Bossi, the volatile politician who brought down his government seven years ago.
After Berlusconi, the next to be sworn in was Deputy Premier Gianfranco Fini, who leads another coalition partner, the formerly neo-fascist National Alliance. Then Bossi, whose Northern League party once advocated secession for Italy's affluent north, swore loyalty to the Italian republic. He is the minister of reform.
Berlusconi assumed the premiership for the second time in his career on Sunday, after a month of haggling among his allies over how to divide up the ministry posts.
The media baron came to power after a May 13 parliamentary election victory that gave his center-right coalition a solid majority in both the Chamber of Deputies and the upper house, the Senate.
The mandatory confidence votes in parliament were expected to be held next week, after Berlusconi returns from a NATO summit on Wednesday in Brussels and a European Union summit Thursday and Friday in Sweden.
Berlusconi, 64, is one of the world's richest men. Once a cruise ship entertainer, he now controls three private TV networks and has holdings in publishing, advertising, insurance and real estate.
Announcing his 25-member Cabinet on Sunday, he spoke like the head of a corporation. He called his government a "team" that was "on top of the situation" and promising it would "ensure innovation, freedom and welfare for all citizens."
While their parties were in the Berlusconi's previous government, which lasted for seven months in 1994, Fini and Bossi had never held cabinet posts before.
The Northern League, which wants the central government to cede more powers to regional and local governments, also secured two other ministries, including justice.
"I am happy because it seems to be a government with people who have something to say and something to do," Bossi said Sunday.
Berlusconi's allies have raised concerns in Europe with their anti-immigrant positions. The European Union, however, shows no intention of imposing sanctions on Italy, as it did on Austria when the more virulent far-right party of Joerg Haider entered the government.
Piero Fassino, who would have been justice minister had the center-left won the election, said Bossi's post should have gone to someone "reliable and known for being able to speak to the whole nation." He also criticized Berlusconi for naming only two women.
Berlusconi's foreign minister is Renato Ruggiero, a respected diplomat who is a former chief of the World Trade Organization.
Many of the key jobs went to Berlusconi's Forza Italia party, which won 30 percent of the vote in the May 13 elections. Some ministers — including Defense Minister Antonio Martino and Economics Minister Giulio Tremonti — were old faces from his first tenure as premier in 1994.
By NICOLE WINFIELD
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