Law professor nominated as Prime Minister of Italian coalition government
The leader of Italy's populist 5-Star Movement party said law professor Giuseppe Conte, 54, will be prime minister of a coalition government between the M5S and the far-right League party.
The leader of Italy's populist 5-Star Movement (M5S) party, Luigi Di Maio, said on May 21 that law professor Giuseppe Conte, 54, will be the Prime Minister of a coalition government between the M5S and the far-right League party.
Speaking to reporters after consultations with Italian President Sergio Mattarella earlier in the day on forming a coalition government, Mr Di Maio said: “Mr Conte will be the prime minister of a political government. We are proud of this choice. Our choice will not upset the Italian people.”
League party leader Matteo Salvini also confirmed Professor Conte's nomination as Prime Minister shortly after another separate meeting between him and President Mattarella.
Mr. Conte is currently a law professor at the University of Florence. Professor Conte, a close ally of the M5S party, is also a lawyer and an academic. He is well known in the legal field and has contributed to many academic journals and foreign universities.
President Mattarella now has the power to reject or accept the above nominations of the two parties M5S and League. If approved, the President is expected to summon Mr. Conte, possibly on May 22, to give him the responsibility of forming the Cabinet. After that, a new government will have to undergo confidence votes in both houses of Parliament, possibly later this week./.
