Former chief of the European Central Bank and one of Europe’s most highly regarded public officials, Mario Draghi has been sworn in as the new Prime Minister of Italy amidst the nation facing its worst recession since World War II. He becomes the 30th Prime Minister of Italy and will lead a cabinet that comprises technocrats, politicians, and ministers.
Often known as ‘Super Mario’ for his impactful work in protecting the Euro in 2012 at the peak of the eurozone crisis, the 73-year-old Draghi was officially appointed by Sergio Mattarella, the President of Italy, in a ceremony that was held in the Italian presidential palace in Rome.
The appointment of Draghi will be the fourth time in three decades that a technocratic prime minister has been appointed. The other Prime Ministers of the same kind were Carlo Azeglio Ciampi in 1993, Lamberto Dini in 1995, and Mario Monti in 2011.
Following the collapse of the previous government led by Giuseppe Conte, Italy was in troubled waters without a premier in tough times.
“Mario Draghi was the Italian who saved Europe, and I think now he is the European who can save Italy,” former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi told the BBC last week.
He will be supported by the director-general of the Bank of Italy, Daniele Franco, who will serve as the new economy minister. Marta Cartabia, the former president of Italy’s Constitutional Court, has been named as justice minister. Luigi Di Maio of the Five Star Movement will continue to serve as the foreign minister.
We hope Draghi’s experience and expertise can help Italy to navigate through this economic crisis.
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