Rome - President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi yesterday swore in Italy's new centre-left government led by Prime Minister Giuliano Amato.
Mr Amato was joined in taking the oath of office by 23 of his ministers, representing the eight political parties in the ruling coalition - Italy's 58th government since the second World War. The new team, however, had an inauspicious start with the post of minister for EU affairs left vacant after the outgoing environment minister, Mr Edo Ronchi, of the Greens said he would decline the ministry because his party should have held on to the environment portfolio.