Far-right Meloni seeks to reassure in first speech as Italy PM

Giorgia Meloni's party had never before been in power and her own government experience is limited to serving as youth minister under Berlusconi in the 2000s

The prospect of a Eurosceptic, populist government in Italy has sparked concern in Brussels

New Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni outlined her programme for government on Tuesday, reaffirming her support for the EU, NATO and Ukraine and presenting herself as a steady hand to guide her country through turbulent times.

One month after her far-right Brothers of Italy party won general elections, Meloni used her inaugural speech to parliament to seek to allay concerns she will guide the eurozone's third largest economy down a radical new path.

Meloni, who was sworn in as Italy's first woman premier on Saturday, denied accusations she will restrict civil rights and said she had "never felt sympathy or closeness to undemocratic regimes... including Fascism."

Meloni strongly backs EU sanctions against Russia for its war in Ukraine, but her coalition ally Silvio Berlusconi last week was recorded defending his old friend, Russian President Vladimir Putin.

On Tuesday, Meloni said the country was "in the midst of a storm."

The new government won a vote of confidence in the lower house of parliament after Meloni's speech, which will be followed by another in the Senate on Wednesday.

- Traditional conservative -

She said "lasting and structural growth" was the answer to reducing Italy's debt -- forecast to be 145 percent of gross domestic product this year, the highest ratio in the eurozone after Greece.

Meloni also warned that help for energy bills would "drain" much of the available funds and other unspecified spending projects would have to be postponed.

He noted she said Italy will fully respect EU budget rules, even if she will work to try to change them.

Meloni said the money was "an extraordinary opportunity to modernise Italy", but said she would seek "adjustments" to the plan to take into account the rising cost of energy and raw materials.

Meloni's party, which has neo-fascist roots, had never before been in power and her own government experience is limited to serving as youth minister under Berlusconi in the 2000s.

In a bid to reassure investors, she has appointed as economy minister Giancarlo Giorgetti, a relatively moderate member of the League who was economic development minister in Mario Draghi's outgoing government.

However tensions within her coalition had led many commentators to predict it may go the way of many others in Italy, which has had almost 70 governments since 1946.

In a series of tweets, the League leader committed himself among other policies to building a long discussed -- and hugely costly -- bridge between mainland Italy and Sicily, which he said would create 100,000 jobs.

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