Italy's Meloni accepts mandate to form new government

Brothers of Italy leader Giorgia Meloni attends a meeting with Italian President Sergio Mattarella at the Quirinale Palace in Rome, Italy October 21, 2022. Paolo Giandotti/Italian Presidency/Handout via REUTERS

ROME (Reuters) - Giorgia Meloni has accepted a mandate to form Italy's next government, a presidential official said on Friday, paving the way for her to become the country's first woman prime minister.

Meloni, head of the nationalist Brothers of Italy, lead an alliance of conservative parties to victory at a Sept. 25 election.