Italy has a new Prime Minister sworn in to lead populist Italian government

Nearly three months after Italians went to the polls, a new Prime Minister was sworn in on Friday afternoon.

Giuseppe Conte, a law professor who has never before held political office was sworn in as Italy's new Prime Minister on Friday afternoon, ending almost three months of political uncertainty and bringing to power a new populist government.

On Thursday evening Italy's President Sergio Mattarella had approved the government put forward by the right-wing League and anti-establishment Five Star Movement, which emerged as the two largest parties after an inconclusive election in March.

Giuseppe Conte took an oath of loyalty to the Italian constitution in a gilded room in the Quirinal, Italy's presidential palace in Rome. After meeting with the outgoing premier Paolo Gentiloni, Conte will hold his first cabinet meeting later Friday. Conte and his new government will also face a confidence vote in parliament next week.

Speaking on the eve of his swearing-in, Conte pledged his new government would "work intensely to realize the political goals of our agreement" and "work with determination to improve the lives of all Italians."