Italy's Draghi says confident he can form government

Former European Central Bank President Mario Draghi on Wednesday accepted the task of trying to form a new government to end a long-running political crisis and said he was confident of securing sufficient backing in the Italian parliament.

Former European Central Bank President Mario Draghi on Wednesday accepted the task of trying to form a new government to end a long-running political crisis and said he was confident of securing sufficient backing in the Italian parliament. In a brief statement after receiving the mandate from President Sergio Mattarella, Draghi said the country faced "a difficult moment," battered by the economic and coronavirus crises.

"I will look to parliament, the expression of the popular will, with great respect," Draghi said. He added that he hoped for unity from political forces as well as society at large, and would return to Mattarella to tell him of the outcome of his talks. He did not give any timeframe.