Letta Confirms he Can Form New Italian government

Italian Prime Minister-designate and deputy leader of the centre-left Democratic Party (PD) Enrico Letta (R) shakes hands with President Giorgio Napolitano at the Quirinale Palace in Rome, April 27, 2013.

Italian centre-left politician Enrico Letta confirmed on Saturday that he could form a government that will include one of former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi closest allies as deputy prime minister.

Letta said Angelino Alfano, secretary of Berlusconi's People
of Liberty (PDL) party, would be deputy prime minister and interior minister.

Bank of Italy director general Fabrizio Saccomanni will take
the powerful economy ministry and former European Commissioner Emma Bonino will be foreign minister, Letta said after meeting President Giorgio Napolitano.

The government will be sworn in at 0930 GMT on Sunday and Letta is expected to go before parliament to seek a vote of confidence on Monday.