国际英语新闻:Italy's named PM vows to form slimmed-down gov't

ROME, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Italy's new Prime Minister-Designate Enrico Letta held party consultations on Thursday to put together a large coalition under the direction of reelected President Giorgio Napolitano, who asked the center-left politician to form Italy's much-awaited new government.

The deputy secretary of the center-left Democratic Party (PD) said his aim was to create a "slimmed-down and sober" government, which will be likely formed by 18 ministers endowed with "high expertise."

Besides to politicians, Letta's cabinet ministers could include professionals from various technical fields, according to media reports.

The difficult task faced by the 46-year-old was building an alliance between the PD and the center-right People of Freedom (PdL), which firmly opposed each other in the electoral campaign that led to February's inconclusive elections.

Though the PdL Secretary Angelino Alfano hailed the PD's "constructive approach" for the good of Italy, disagreements emerged about the potential ministers as well as the inclusion of prominent figures from the two rival parties.

The PdL leader and former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said the hypothesis of Letta failing in his bid to form a government was "unthinkable," considering Italy's need to tackle deepening economic and social emergency.

The new government would also be backed by outgoing Prime Minister Mario Monti's Civic Choice.

But many obstacles lie ahead including the PdL's electoral pledge to pay back a tax on primary residences (IMU) and abolish party funding as well as profound divisions over the justice system.

Berlusconi proposed an eight-point platform, including the IMU rebate, which he said was "essential" to the PdL participation in the Letta government.

The anti-establishment Five-Star Movement (M5S), which was the second most voted force in parliament due to loss of credibility of mainstream politics, along with leftwing Left, Ecology and Freedom party (SEL) and rightwing Northern League said they will be opposition parties.

However, they pledged to cooperate in supporting urgent reforms including changing an unworkable election system, reducing political costs and pushing economic measures in a country which is in its longest recession for 20 years with millions facing rising poverty and unemployment.