Italy PM-designate Enrico Letta agrees new government

A deal on the formation of a new three party coalition government, with a technocratic involvement, was reached in Italy on the 27 April 2013, ending two months of political deadlock since the general election in February 2013.

The agreement was announced after Prime Minister-designate Enrico Letta met President Giorgio Napolitano.

The coalition brought together Mr Letta's Democratic Party (PD) and the People of Freedom party (PDL) of former PM Silvio Berlusconi.

The government was sworn in on the 28 April 2013 with Mr Letta as Prime Minister.

The new government faced immediate challenges to deal with the serious economic situation in Italy.

ESO: Background information: Italian general election, 2013 http://www.europeansources.info/record/italian-general-election-2013/

ESO: Background information: Enrico Letta set to become Italy's new prime minister http://www.europeansources.info/record/enrico-letta-set-to-become-italys-new-prime-minister/

France24, 27.04.13: Italy reaches agreement on new government http://www.france24.com/en/20130427-italy-forms-new-government-letta

Deutsche Welle, 27.04.13: Italy forms new coalition government http://www.dw.de/italy-forms-new-coalition-government/a-16776692

BBC News, 28.04.13: New Italian 'grand coalition' government sworn in http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-22327445

EurActiv, 29.04.13: Italy’s new government beds in as storm clouds gather http://www.euractiv.com/elections/italy-new-party-government-face-news-519411

Italy: Bank of Italy / Banca d'Italia: DEF 2103 - Preliminary testimony of the Managing Director for Economic Research to the Senate, April 2013 http://www.bancaditalia.it/media/notizie/audizione-def-23042013

La Repubblica, 29.04.13: The traps awaiting the new generation (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/article/3731311-traps-awaiting-new-generation

Spiegel Online International, 29.04.13: Big Tests Ahead: Italy Tries Fresh Start With Fragile Government http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/new-italian-government-faces-major-political-tensions-a-897204.html

European Council: President: Press Release, PRES/13/172: Brussels, 28 April 2013 Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council, congratulates Prime Minister Enrico Letta on the formation of the new government of Italy http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_PRES-13-172_en.pdf

France 24, 30.14.13: Italy’s new government wins final confidence vote http://www.france24.com/en/20130430-italy-new-government-wins-final-confidence-vote-senate-letta

Blog: GMF Blog, 30.04.13: Italy’s Coming Tests http://blog.gmfus.org/2013/04/30/italys-coming-tests/

La Stampa / Il Sole-24 Ore / Die Zeit & 2 others, 02.05.13: A new player, hardly a new game (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/press-review/3740411-new-player-hardly-new-game

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