ROME, Oct 31 (KUNA) -- Italy's former communications minister Paolo Gentiloni, was chosen on Friday by Prime Minister Matteo Renzi to be his foreign minister, replacing Federica Mogherini, who was set to take on her new role as EU foreign policy chief in Brussels tomorrow.
The centre-left ruling Democratic Party (PD) said that the election of Gentiloni, a former journalist who studied political science, comes after extensive deliberations between Italian President Giorgio Napolitano and Prime Minister Renzi, particularly after Mogherini formally submitted its resignation today.
Gentiloni is expected to swear-in later tonight and assume the new post within the next few hours.
Gentiloni, who will be 60 years old next month, is known as one of Renzi's close allies.
He held the post of communications minister under Prime Minister Romano Prodi between 2006 and 2008.
He has been a member of the lower house of parliament's foreign and European affairs commission since February 2013. (end) mn.mb