Giuseppe Conte accepts role as Italy prime minister as populist parties revive coalition

Giuseppe Conte will be sworn in as Italy’s prime minister after accepting a role in the country’s new populist government.

The president’s office announced on Thursday that law professor Mr Conte had accepted the role and would be sworn in on Friday afternoon with cabinet ministers.

Mr Conte read the list of ministers and told reporters in a brief statement: “We will work with determination to improve the quality of life of all Italians.”

The announcement demonstrated that president Sergio Mattarella has accepted the cabinet chosen by the anti-establishment Five Star Movement and League parties at their second attempt of forming a government.

Five Star leader Luigi Di Maio and League head Matteo Salvini struck a compromise earlier on Thursday that led the president to postpone attempts to put an interim government in place.

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