The new government is formed in Italy, 'Super Mario' swears the new prime minister   

Mario Draghi was sworn in as Italy's new Prime Minister during a ceremony at the Quirinal Palace in Rome, bringing a new era in Italian politics.

The former head of the European Central Bank arrived three minutes earlier for the event, held under strict pandemic measures.

His new administration will take office next week following a vote by both houses of the Italian parliament. This is expected to be a formality as most lawmakers have already indicated they will support Draghi.

First and foremost on the 73-year-old's agenda is rescuing Italy from the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed 93,000 people and plunged the country into its deepest recession since World War II.

Known as Super Mario, after being credited with preserving Europe's common currency, the euro, when he was president of the European Central Bank, his new government now includes a mix of people from almost all of the nation's parties.  

Italy has often been in political crisis over the past three decades and technical governments have been seen as the solution.  

How the political crisis was triggered

The Italian government crisis erupted last month when former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi's Italy Viva party withdrew its support from the coalition - which also included the populist leftist Five Star Movement (MS5), the center-right Democratic Party (PD ) and a left-wing parliamentary group.

Mattarella, who had previously said he was against calling new elections amid the COVID-19 pandemic, then called on Draghi, 73, to try to form a coalition.

MS5, the largest political force in the Italian government, formally backed Draghi as prime minister on Thursday after an online vote by its members in which 59.3 per cent of the 74,500 who participated voted in favor of a government led by the former central banker. European.

Draghi had already secured the support of PD, the center-right Forza Italia party of former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, Italy Viva and the League - enough to win the vote of confidence in both chambers.