Renzi promises 'energy, enthusiasm' as new Italy PM

Italy's Matteo Renzi outlined an ambitious plan for reform on Monday just after receiving the nomination to be the country's new prime minister, promising to apply all his "energy, enthusiasm and commitment". Renzi said he would begin formal coalition talks on Tuesday and predicted they would take "a few days" as he plans to form a stable government that can survive until the next scheduled elections in 2018. "We will take the time we need, with the knowledge that there is a sense of urgency out there and this is an extremely delicate and important time," he said after being given the mandate by President Giorgio Napolitano. "The most pressing emergency, which concerns my generation and others, is the emergency of labour, of unemployment and of despair," the 39-year-old said. "I will put all my energy, enthusiasm and commitment into this difficult situation," he said. He vowed that if he succeeds, he would act quickly to reform the constitution, the labour market, education and the tax system in his first few months in power.