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Optimism surrounds new Italy PM Mario Draghi

Author
Newstalk ZB staff,
Publish Date
Thu, 18 Feb 2021, 11:14am
Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi. (Photo / Getty)
Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi. (Photo / Getty)

Optimism surrounds new Italy PM Mario Draghi

Author
Newstalk ZB staff,
Publish Date
Thu, 18 Feb 2021, 11:14am

There's been applauds for new Italian Prime Minster Mario Draghi following his highly-anticipated maiden speech.

Draghi who was sworn into office on Saturday, has pledged to speed up the country’s coronavirus vaccination programme, describing the virus as everyone's enemy and saying 'unity is not an option, it is a duty'.

The 73-year-old is facing a confidence vote in the upper house of Parliament for his new Government, which he is expected to pass without issue.

Europe corespondent Jo McKenna told Mike Hosking he should have the numbers for sweeping reform.

"It will take a lot to overhaul the Government administration as he's promising, overhaul the judiciary and actually make it function in a way that works."

Ms McKenna says in terms of lockdown in Italy, it is all over the show. There are lighter lockdowns in parts and a redzone in four different locations outside of Milan.

"People are very concerned about the new variants," she adds.

Ms McKenna says Italy's vaccine roll-out was initially delayed, but 1.3 million people have so been fully vaccinated - a number the Government will be wanting to crank up in the next few weeks.

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