ROME, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Italian President Sergio Mattarella on Sunday asked outgoing Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni to serve as new prime minister.
Gentiloni was summoned to the Quirinale presidential palace at noon time, and was officially given the mandate to form a new government, Secretary General to the Presidency of the Republic Ugo Zampetti confirmed.
Matteo Renzi had resigned from the prime minister office on Dec. 7, some three days after suffering a defeat in a crucial referendum on constitutional reforms.
