Enrico Letta appointed Italian PM

Italy’s president has appointed Enrico Letta as prime minister, asking him to try to form a government to end Italy’s political paralysis and set the country back on the path of reform and economic growth.

Mr Letta, a 46-year-old longtime centre-left lawmaker, told reporters today he accepted the job knowing it is an enormous responsibility and that Italy’s political class “has lost all credibility”.

He must now form a cabinet that can win broad, cross-party support and win a vote of confidence in Parliament.

Mr Letta’s improbable candidacy came after the chief of his Democratic Party, Pier Luigi Bersani, resigned after failing to form a government following inconclusive February elections and then failing to unite the party behind a candidate for president.