RFE/RL: Italy's new Prime Minister calls for ending some EU sanctions on Russia - Jun. 06, 2018

RFE/RL: Italy’s new Prime Minister calls for ending some EU sanctions on Russia

Italys Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte looks on during a confidence debate at the Senate in Rome on June 05, 2018.Italy's populist coalition will test its power on Tuesday in the first of this week's two parliamentary confidence votes in the new government.The first eurosceptic government in a founding EU nation was sworn in on Friday after almost three months of political turmoil that raised concern across Europe and sparked weeks of volatility on financial markets. / AFP PHOTO / Andreas SOLARO

Photo by AFP

Italy’s new populist Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said top priorities for his government will be ending illegal immigration and strengthening ties with Russia.

“We’ll be the advocates of an opening towards Russia,” including ending European Union sanctions against Russia that hurt “civil society,” Conte said in an address to senators in Rome after the upper chamber of parliament voted to support the new populist coalition government in a 171 to 117 confidence vote on June 5.