Mario Draghi sworn in as Italy's Prime Minister

Draghi will head a union government of nearly all of the main Italian political parties. The previous government collapsed in January following a controversy on how to spend European Union (EU) coronavirus relief funds. Italy is currently in the midst of its most severe economic crisis in decades as the country battles the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. With more than 93,000 deaths Italy has the sixth highest death toll in the world.

Draghi has already named his new cabinet with members from all major parties, including Luigi Di Maio, a member of the Five Star Movement, as the foreign minister.

Giancarlo Giorgetti, a member of the far-right League, will be trade minister, while Andrea Orlando, from the center-left Democratic Party, will be labour minister.

The union government will have to go through a vote of confidence next week, which it is expected to win given the broad base of the coalition.