Related: Italy's new government formed
Sepcial Report: Italy's general election

    ROME, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi announced who's who in his centre-left government on Wednesday after meeting with President Giorgio Napolitano.

    Prodi, the 66-year-old former European Commission chief, immediately promised the country would have a "solid" government. The new cabinet was due to be sworn in on Wednesday afternoon, according to Italian media.

    Former premier and Democratic Left (DS) party chairman Massimo D'Alema, whose party is the largest in Prodi's coalition, has been appointed foreign minister and one of the two deputy premiers.

    D'Alema, 57, had previously been forced to step aside twice when contending for government posts -- once in favour of Communist Refoundation Party (PRC) chief Fausto Bertinotti for thejob of Lower House Speaker and again in favour of Napolitano for the post of president.

    Daisy party chief Francesco Rutelli, 51, whose centrist Catholic party is the second biggest in the coalition, will also have a combined post of culture minister and the other deputy premier.

    Giuliano Amato, a 68-year-old former Socialist who served as premier from 1992-93 and again from 2000-2001, was put in charge of the interior ministry.

    The important post of economy minister was set to go to former European Central Bank board member Tommaso Padoa Schioppa.

    Most experts agree that Padoa Schioppa, who is not a party affiliate, is an ideal choice to boost confidence in Italy's ability to fix its ailing finances and help boost its stagnant economy.

    Romano Prodi was appointed Italian premier on Tuesday, almost five weeks after narrowly beating outgoing premier Silvio Berlusconi in Italy's general election.

    Napolitano, who was sworn in as president on Monday, gave centre-left chief Prodi the constitutionally-required mandate to govern following a day of consultations with party leaders, the two parliamentary speakers and former heads of state.

    Prodi said his government would promote "greater social cohesion and guarantee the harmonious development of our society."Enditem