Why Meloni could be a risk for democracy?
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(CNN) --
Populist firebrand Giorgia Meloni is now the first woman to serve as Italy's prime minister, making her the country's most far-right-leaning leader since Benito Mussolini.
This Friday afternoon, after two days of official consultations, he received the mandate to form a government from the President of Italy, Sergio Mattarella, and is scheduled to take the oath at 10 in the morning, local time (4 in the morning, ET) this Saturday.
Giorgia Meloni wins the elections in Italy and will be the most far-right prime minister in the country since Mussolini
In last month's general election, an alliance of ultra- and centre-right parties, led by their ultra-conservative Brothers of Italy, won enough seats in parliament to form a government.
Meloni announced his chosen ones to form the Government at the Quirinal Palace in Rome, making the leader of the far-right League party, Matteo Salvini, Minister of Infrastructure.
Giancarlo Giorgetti, also from the League party, was appointed Economy Minister.
Antonio Tajani, of the Forza Italia party, was given the post of foreign minister, while the role of defense minister went to Guido Crosetto, one of the founders of the Brothers of Italy party.
The new government will be made up of a coalition of Meloni's Brothers of Italy party, Salvini's League party and Forza Italia party, led by former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
The Brothers of Italy received nine ministries, while Forza Italia and the League received five ministries each.
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Meloni will take office in a ceremony on Saturday morning at 10:00 local time (4:00 ET).
The formation of his new cabinet has exposed the underlying tensions.
This week, controversial former leader Berlusconi made headlines when audio published by the Italian news agency LaPresse revealed the 86-year-old discussing his "restored" relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Berlusconi's office confirmed to CNN on Thursday that the audios were authentic, as they were apparently secretly recorded during a meeting of his Forza Italia party in the parliamentary chamber on Tuesday.
In the audio, the billionaire media mogul says he has "restored relations with President Putin" and goes on to boast that the Russian leader called him "the first of his five true friends."
Silvio Berlusconi says Putin sent him 20 bottles of vodka and a "very sweet letter" on his birthday last month
His comments drew backlash as diplomatic relations between Russia and Western leaders remain strained amid the Kremlin's heavy-handed military assault on Ukraine.
Berlusconi has been the subject of multiple corruption and bribery trials during his tumultuous political career.
Meloni has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine in its fight against Moscow's invasion.
Amid her criticism of her coalition over Berlusconi's leaked comments, she reaffirmed her foreign policy line.
"With us in government, Italy will never be the weak link in the West. The nation of spaghetti and mandolin, so loved by many of our detractors, will relaunch its credibility and defend its interests," Meloni said late Wednesday in your Instagram account.
Earlier this Friday, after a meeting with Mattarella and his coalition partners, Meloni said it was necessary to form the new government "as soon as possible."
"We are ready to rule Italy," said Meloni's official Facebook page.
"We will be able to face the urgencies and challenges of our time with awareness and competence."
Silvio Berlusconi (left) and Matteo Salvini (right) are expected to form part of Meloni's Cabinet, which will see one of the most far-right governments in Italy's recent history.
Credit: Antonio Masiello/Getty Images
Meloni entered the crowded Italian political scene in 2006 and in 2012 co-founded the Brothers of Italy, a party whose platform is based on Euroscepticism and anti-immigration policies.
The group's popularity soared ahead of the September election, when Italian voters once again rejected mainstream politics and opted for a fringe figure.
"Mussolini was a good politician" and 4 other controversial episodes by Giorgia Meloni
She became known as vice president of the National Alliance, an openly neo-fascist group made up of supporters of Benito Mussolini.
Meloni herself openly admired the dictator when she was young, but she later distanced herself from his brand of fascism, despite keeping the tricolor flame symbolizing eternal fire at her grave in the Brothers of Italy.
Throughout his political career he has followed a conservative platform, often questioning LGBT rights, abortion rights and immigration policies.
CNN's Antonia Mortensen and Sugam Pokharel contributed to this report.
Giorgia MeloniItaly
