Prodi named Italy's premier-designate
Prodi named Italy's premier-designate
Rome - Romano Prodi, an economist who led a centre-left coalition to election victory, was named prime minister-designate and asked to form Italy's 55th post-war government yesterday. Mr Prodi could announce his cabinet choices this weekend. The government then must be approved by parliament. Mr Prodi's bloc, dominated by the former Communists, led elections on 21 April.
Before he even was given the job, Mr Prodi faced a tough economic task: coming up with a package of spending cuts and tax increases. The savings are needed to keep the government's deficit in line with a hole of 109.4 trillion lire ($70bn), the basis for budget calculations. AP
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies