Mario Draghi accepts mandate to form new Italian government

Former ECB chief was summoned by President Mattarella after collapse of Conte's coalition in January

Mario Draghi, the former European Central Bank chief, has accepted a mandate to try to form a new Italian government as the country seeks a way of the political crisis triggered by the collapse of its most recent coalition.

Draghi, nicknamed Super Mario" for his role in saving the European single currency, will now have to galvanise support in parliament to quickly build a technical administration needed to manage the coronavirus pandemic and economic crisis.