Italy Meloni: Far-right leader poised to govern despite Putin row
Italy's far-right leader Giorgia Meloni and her coalition allies have met President Sergio Mattarella and say they are ready to form a government "as quickly as possible".
He is set to ask Ms Meloni in the coming hours to become prime minister.
Veteran ex-Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi attended the brief talks, despite shaking the coalition's unity with leaked pro-Putin remarks.
Ms Meloni has sought to assure Italy's Western allies nothing will change.
The Brothers of Italy leader could be sworn in as early as this weekend as the country's first female prime minister - and first far-right leader since World War Two. She said her coalition of right-wing and far-right parties was unanimous that she should lead Italy. read more
