New Italian President Calls for Reforms During Inaugural Speech

ROME, (Sputnik) – New Italian President Sergio Mattarella made his inaugural speech Tuesday, calling for reforms in the European Union and promising to tackle deep economic problems in the country.

Mattarella stressed that Italian unity is being threatened by the systemic economic challenges the country and other EU member states are facing.

“They inflicted new wounds and created more poverty, “ he said, calling for urgent institutional and economic reforms, which “would give an efficient answer to society.”

Mattarella, a former Italian Constitutional Court judge, also promised a crackdown on the Mafia and corruption.

“To guarantee the Constitution means to recognize and support everyone’s right to work, to deny war and promote peace,” he added.

The president has also referred to the outbursts of “international terrorism, which gave a challenge to the world, spreading sorrow and leading to deaths of innocent people.” He condemned religion-based violence in particular and stressed that the government has to guarantee everyone’s right to “live without fear.”

On Saturday, Mattarella was elected as the 12th president of Italy after former President Giorgio Napolitano, 89, resigned earlier in January. His term was supposed to last until 2020.

Italy's economy is still fragile, with high levels of unemployment. In January, Italian unemployed hit a record high of 13.4 percent, with the number of unemployed Italians reaching nearly 3.5 million, according to National Institute for Statistics estimates.