海角大神

Italy鈥檚 new Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni is urging the nation鈥檚 parliament to support his initial moves in combating failing banks and bringing about much needed electoral reforms in the wake of his predecessor Matteo Renzi鈥檚 resignation.

But members of parliament have taken a tough stance against Mr. Gentiloni, opposing a newly picked cabinet that too closely resembles the one Mr. Renzi assembled. The move violates the results of last week鈥檚 referendum, in which voters largely rejected Renzi鈥檚 reforms, members of the opposing parties say.

As established politicians seek to bolster the nation鈥檚 banks and find ways to assist the European Union in handling the continent鈥檚 refugee crisis, those in the opposition are clamoring for change.

Renzi resigned last week following the referendum, which was seen as a pushback on his leadership as prime minister. Gentiloni, who previously served as the minister of foreign affairs, was sworn in as Renzi鈥檚 replacement Monday.

Under Gentiloni鈥檚 new cabinet, several of Renzi鈥檚 ministers were slated to keep their positions, and were sworn in Monday. They include the ministers of finance, reforms, defense, justice, health, infrastructure, and culture.

Speaking before Parliament Tuesday, Gentiloni said the government planned to intervene in the banking crisis, hoping to guarantee Italians鈥� savings.

"I want to say very clearly that the government ... is ready to intervene in order to guarantee the stability of banks and the savings of our citizens," he said.

He also vowed to assist lawmakers in drafting an electoral law that would alleviate some of the constraints created by varying rules in Parliament鈥檚 two houses.

In the opposition鈥檚 camp was the Five Star Movement, a populist group that formerly residing on the fringe of the political system that has grown in popularity and is making its way closer to the nation鈥檚 mainstage. The party doesn鈥檛 embody the hard-right ideologies and anti-immigration policies many of the populist movements across Europe have used to propel themselves forward, but centers around an anti-establishment platform.

鈥淲e鈥檙e not of the left or the right,鈥� Luigi Di Maio, the Five Star party鈥檚 potential candidate for prime minister and the deputy leader of the lower house of Parliament, told The New York Times. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 recognize ourselves in these ideologically motivated parties.鈥�

Found in 2009, the party sought to create a dominant web presence and appeal to Italians who feel left behind in an era where the European Union has become a larger player. It has since harnessed the anger of citizens and directed those feelings at the nation鈥檚 elites, polling around 30 percent in a multiparty race for prime minister.

While Gentiloni was sworn in Monday, he must receive votes of confidence from both houses of parliament to receive the full powers of the office. The first vote Tuesday in the lower house is expected to go in his favor, but Wednesday鈥檚 vote in the Senate could prove problematic, as members of the Five Star movement and the right-wing Northern League party have vowed to protest the lack of cabinet shakeup by abstaining from the vote.

Some say Gentiloni鈥檚 failure to respond to the referendum with sweeping changes could bury his Democratic party.

"They are digging their grave with their own hands," Mr. Di Maio told Reuters.

Information from Reuters and the Associated Press was used in this report.