ROME, May 8: Italian conservative leader Silvio Berlusconi embarked on Thursday on his third stint as prime minister as he and his slimmed-down, right-wing cabinet took the oath of office.

“I swear to be faithful to the republic, to respect the constitution and to exercise my duties in the sole interest of the nation,” said Berlusconi, as he and his 21-member government were sworn in before President Giorgio Napolitano.

The media tycoon turned politician will present his programme to parliament on Tuesday and ask for votes of confidence on the next two days in the lower and upper houses of parliament.

Berlusconi had announced his new cabinet in record time, just three weeks after scoring a strong election victory, in what commentators said was a signal that he was in a rush to get to work for an impatient electorate.

“Berlusconi’s Lightning Government,” headlined the daily La Stampa after the media tycoon broke with protocol by making the announcement immediately after a meeting with President Giorgio Napolitano.

—AFP