Giorgia Meloni formally takes over as Italy's first woman prime minister on Sunday, a day after being sworn in as the leader of the country's most right-wing government since World War II, Report informs via the Associated Press.
The handover of power from outgoing premier Mario Draghi to Meloni took place at Rome's Chigi Palace and a first cabinet meeting would follow shortly afterwards.
The symbolic act at the seat of Italy's government saw former European Central Bank chief Draghi, in charge since February 2021, hand over a bell used by the cabinet president to manage cabinet debates.
European Union chiefs, wary of the far-right taking power, on Saturday said they were ready to cooperate with the new coalition government led by Meloni's post-fascist and Eurosceptic Brothers of Italy party.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen congratulated Meloni and said she held "good" telephone talks with her, while Meloni said she was ready to work with the bloc's leaders.