ROME, October 31 (RIA Novosti) – Federica Mogherini resigned as Italy's Foreign Minister due to her assuming office on November 1 of the post of EU foreign policy chief, the Italian Foreign Ministry said in a Friday press release.
"Federica Mogherini handed in her resignation as Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation today, 31 October 2014," the statement said.
Shortly before her resignation, Mogherini said the eight months she had spent as the head of Italian diplomacy had been very eventful.
Also on Friday, Italian media reported that Paolo Gentiloni, one of the founders of the ruling Democratic Party, would be appointed the new foreign minister later on Friday.
Lapo Postelli, the country's Deputy Foreign Ministry, wrote "Congratulations to Paolo Gentiloni, the new foreign minister," on his Twitter.
Federica Mogherini, 41, has been appointed the European Union's next High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. On Saturday she will replace Catherine Ashton, who has held the position since 2009.
