ROME – Prime minister designate Giuseppe Conte summoned Italy’s political parties for his first round of consultations at Montecitorio on Thursday after receiving a mandate from Italian President Sergio Mattarella to form a government, according to a statement from the Chamber of Deputies.

 Discussions were to take place from 12.00 to 19.00 as the law professor, who boasts no political experience, looks to form his executive from the anti-establishment Five Star Movement and the anti-migrant, Eurosceptic League party.

 The Milan stock exchange responded well to the appointment of Conte on Wednesday following weeks of high turbulence, seeing the spread drop over 10 basis points after he said he would be the country’s “defence lawyer in a government of change.”

 Italian media were split by the appointment. Whilst Conte’s authority as a compromise leader has been called into question, his comments following talks with the head of state were welcomed by pro-EU supporters.

 Rather than the feared radical stance, his slick delivery, claiming to be an advocate of the people, recalled a more old-style Christian Democrat politician, highlighting “the necessity to confirm Italy within Europe.”

 Yet, concerns still cloud over the appointment of anti-EU economist, Paolo Savona, whose nomination as Economy Minister continues to fluster Mattarella and threaten Brussels, having previously labelled Italy’s adoption of the euro a “historic error.”

 Savona conveys a particularly antagonistic approach towards Germany, who he believes has attempted to dominate Europe economically.

 Forza Italia leader Silvio Berlusconi expressed his displeasure at the appointment of a technical prime minister whilst underlining a sense of betrayal that the League leader, Matteo Salvini, has strayed away from the centre-right coalition.

 Berlusconi’s opposition, alongside pressure from Fratelli d’Italia, puts at risk the slender majority in the Senate potentially held by a Conte-led government.

 Conte was expected to meet with opposition parties on Thursday afternoon followed by concluding discussions with the League at 18.20 and M5S at 19.00.

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