The New Nation - Internet Edition

AP, Rome

Conservative leader Silvio Berlusconi formed Italy's 62nd postwar government on Wednesday for his third stint as premier. The 71-year-old media mogul already served as premier for five years, a record in Italy's postwar history of revolving-door governments. There have been 61 governments since the end of World War II, and some premiers have been forced to quit after only months in power.

This time around, Berlusconi will lead a Cabinet facing the difficult tasks of kick-starting the sluggish economy, boosting productivity and cutting the privileges of a political class that is much maligned and largely discredited. Berlusconi formally received the mandate to form the government from President Giorgio Napolitano and the two talked at the presidential palace for about an hour.

The new government will be sworn in Thursday and then must undergo a vote of confidence in parliament, which is safely controlled by Berlusconi's conservative forces.