This archive report was first published on 1 September 2019.
Italy's Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has set a deadline for unveiling his cabinet list, with negotiations between the Five Star Movement and the Democratic Party expected to conclude by Tuesday or Wednesday at the latest.
According to Conte, he will present his cabinet line-up and government programme to Italy's President Sergio Mattarella after the negotiations are complete.
Conte and his new ministers would then be sworn in on Thursday, before facing a parliament vote on Friday.
Conte expressed optimism about the coalition talks, stating that there is now a 'good working atmosphere' between the parties, which were previously sworn enemies.
The Five Star Movement and the Democratic Party have agreed to form a new coalition to avoid new elections after the hardline Matteo Salvini, head of the far-right League, pulled the plug on the government earlier this month.
Conte denied that he was biased towards the Five Star Movement, insisting that he was neutral and would choose the best team for the cabinet.
He also emphasized that the coalition would have a 'single shared programme' where it would be difficult to distinguish which measures were championed by which party.
