Berlusconi ladles out positions in his not-so-slimmed-down government

After a month of bitter wrangling with his allies, and just in time for the Nato summit this week, Italy's incoming Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, has named his new government.

But the new line-up does little to back up the media tycoon's promises of slimming down the Italian bureaucracy and running the country as efficiently as his billion-dollar business empire.

Despite a reform law that limits the number of Cabinet ministers to 12, Mr Berlusconi plans to add two more.

To satisfy the appetites of his allies he has also introduced a host of "second division" ministers and ministers-without-portfolios, bringing the total to 26. These posts include a ministry dedicated to the carrying out of the government programme and one to oversee the interests of Italians living abroad.

The lion's share of the portfolios ­ nine ­ go to Mr Berlusconi's Forza Italia party, but he has secured two prestigious technocrats ­ former World Trade Organisation head, Renato Ruggiero, for Foreign Affairs, and high-powered Milan businesswoman Letizia Moratti, for the Education job. In Italy's 59th post-war government the suave Gianfranco Fini, head of the hard-right Alleanza Nazionale party, becomes deputy Prime Minister and his party gets five ministries.

Umberto Bossi, whose party until recently wanted an independent northern Italian state, is to become Minister of Reform and Devolution. Mr Bossi's appointment is a calculated gamble by Mr Berlusconi who wants to keep his rough-tongued ally in line, even though he is not strictly dependent on League votes for his majority. The memories of 1994, when Mr Bossi brought down the Berlusconi government after a mere seven months in power, are still vivid.

The heavyweight portfolios have gone to Mr Berlusconi's trusted lieutenants. Claudio Scaloja, responsible for the organisation of Forza Italia, takes the sensitive Interior Ministry; Giulio Tremonti, a tax lawyer, heads the Economy portfolio and Antonio Martino is the new Defence Minister. The Justice Ministry, a particularly sensitive post, given Mr Berlusconi's own ongoing trials (for bribery and false accounting) and his vow to neutralise "left-wing magistrates", has gone to the Northern League's little-known Roberto Castelli.

Mr Berlusconi has been criticised for having just two women in his cabinet. In addition to Mrs Moratti, Mr Berlusconi has named Stefania Prestagiacomo ­ frequently dubbed Miss Parliament for her good looks and figure ­ as Equal Opportunities Minister.

Though the new team must still pass a formality confidence vote later this month, Mr Berlusconi can represent Italy at the Nato summit in Brussels, which will also be the European debut of President George Bush with whom Mr Berlusconi wants a "special relationship".