Italian President Sergio Mattarella arrives at Rome's Quirinale Presidential Palace, Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019. The Italian presidential palace says Premier Giuseppe Conte has formed a new government, a coalition of the populist 5-Star Movement and left-leaning Democrats that shuts out of power right-wing leader Matteo Salvini. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
The Associated Press
ROME (AP) - The Latest on Italian government politics (all times local):
4:25 p.m.
Roberto Gualtieri, 53, a Democrat who now chairs the European Parliament's economic affairs commission has been named Italy's new economy minister, as Premier Giuseppe Conte unveiled his new Cabinet.
Gualtieri will have the hard task of drafting a painful budget law that needs to be approved by the end of the year and avert a massive VAT hike that could hurt Italy's fragile economy.
At the key Interior ministry, Conte choose migration expert Luciana Lamorgese, 65, former Milan prefect.
She is expected to reshape migration policies after her predecessor, League's leader Matteo Salvini, imposed his hard-line stance.
Italy's president signed off the new Cabinet on Wednesday after the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement and the center-left Democrats forged an uneasy government coalition expected to improve ties with European Union's partners and adopt a softer migration stance.
___
3:40 p.m.
The Italian presidential palace says Premier Giuseppe Conte has formed a new government, a coalition of the populist 5-Star Movement and left-leaning Democrats that shuts out of power right-wing leader Matteo Salvini.
Six days after President Sergio Mattarella tasked him with trying to form a new coalition, Conte reported back on Wednesday to say he succeeded.
His first, 14-month-old government collapsed last month when Salvini yanked his anti-migrant League party out of the populist coalition in a foiled bid to trigger early elections so he could gain the premiership himself.
___
12:55 p.m.
Political leaders say they've put the final touches on Italy's next government, which will shut out right-wing firebrand Matteo Salvini and his anti-migrant League.
Premier-designate Giuseppe Conte is expected to report back soon to Italy's president, possibly later Wednesday, with a Cabinet list for what would be his second government.
Salvini toppled Conte's previous, populist coalition by yanking his party's coalition support last month, hoping to force an election and become premier himself.
But, despite bitter rivalry, the center-left Democratic Party has agreed to govern with the populist 5-Star Movement, which again will be senior partner.
The coalition must win mandatory confidence votes in the legislature's two chambers. Together, the Democrats, 5-Stars and a tiny left-wing party should muster a slim majority.
FILE - In this Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2019 file photo, Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte, right, is flanked by Deputy-Premier Matteo Salvini as he addresses the Senate in Rome. Italy's populist 5-Star Movement has asked, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2019, the nation's president to give caretaker Premier Giuseppe Conte the mandate to form a new coalition government, a week after the one he led for 14 months collapsed. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia, File)
The Associated Press
Leader of the Democratic Party, Nicola Zingaretti, meets the media upon leaving the party's headquarters in Rome, Monday, Sept. 2, 2019. Premier-designate Giuseppe Conte says he is aiming to form Italy's new government by Wednesday. The populist 5-Star Movement is negotiating with the center-left Democratic Party to put their animosity as adversaries aside to avoid an early election that could put the right-wing League in power and make party leader Matteo Salvini premier. (Angelo Carconi/ANSA via AP)
The Associated Press
The League party leader Matteo Salvini talks to journalists after meeting with Italian President Sergio Mattarella at Rome's Quirinale presidential palace, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2019. Mattarella continued receiving political leaders to explore if a solid majority with staying power exists in Parliament for a new government that could win the required confidence vote. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
The Associated Press
Italian Premier-designate Giuseppe Conte leaves after attending the funeral service for Cardinal Achille Silvestrini, in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Friday, Aug. 30, 2019. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
The Associated Press
Five-Star movement's leader Luigi Di Maio, addresses the media after a meeting with designated Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte, in Rome, Friday, Aug. 30, 2019. Italyâs populist 5-Star chief isnât budging in his demands in dealings for a new government aimed at keeping right-wing Matteo Salvini from power. Luigi Di Maioâs comments, after talks with Premier-designate Giuseppe Conte on Friday, made plain how iffy efforts are forge a government with the rival Democratic Party. (Angelo Carconi/ANSA via AP)
The Associated Press
The League party leader Matteo Salvini talks to journalists after meeting with Italian President Sergio Mattarella at Rome's Quirinale presidential palace, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2019. Mattarella continued receiving political leaders to explore if a solid majority with staying power exists in Parliament for a new government that could win the required confidence vote. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
The Associated Press
The League party leader Matteo Salvini, background center, talks to journalists after meeting with Italian President Sergio Mattarella at Rome's Quirinale presidential palace, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2019. Mattarella continued receiving political leaders to explore if a solid majority with staying power exists in Parliament for a new government that could win the required confidence vote. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
The Associated Press
The League party leader, Matteo Salvini, is cheered by supporters in Conselve, Italy, Friday, Aug. 30, 2019. Giuseppe Conte's 14-month coalition collapsed this month after Salvini pulled his right-wing League's support for the government. Salvini hoped his pullout would have triggered early elections to bring him to power, but the 5-Star-Democratic effort to form a new government blocked him. (Nicola Fossella/ANSA via AP)
The Associated Press
Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte arrives at Rome's Quirinale Presidential Palace, Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019. The Italian presidential palace says Premier Giuseppe Conte has formed a new government, a coalition of the populist 5-Star Movement and left-leaning Democrats that shuts out of power right-wing leader Matteo Salvini. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
The Associated Press