Italy’s foreign minister Paolo Gentiloni picked to replace Matteo Renzi as prime minister

Paolo Gentiloni has been named as Italy’s new prime minister following the resignation of reformist leader Matteo Renzi following an embarrassing referendum defeat. 

Italian president Sergio Mattarella, has tasked Gentiloni, 62 who served as foreign minister under Renzi, to form a new government, giving him a mandate to lead Italy out of a political crisis caused as a result of Matteo Renzi resignation.

Gentiloni, a former journalist will become Italy's fifth prime minister in as many years and the fourth in a row to take office without winning an election. 

Gentiloni is now expected to put together his own government team ahead of a parliamentary vote approval on Wednesday.

Gentiloni in a brief statement, said there was an “urgent need for a fully functioning government” to address a series of pressing international, economic and social issues.

“Not by choice but out of a sense of responsibility I will be forming a government based on the outgoing majority,” Mr Gentiloni said.

Former prime minister, Renzi, who had been in power for two years and 10 months, resigned last week after voters overwhelmingly rejected a package of constitutional reforms.

Reuters