Italy’s Meloni picks new tourism minister in shake-up after referendum

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FILE PHOTO: Italian PM Meloni and President of Cyprus Christodoulides meet at Chigi Palace in Rome

ROME, April ‌3 (Reuters) - Italy's culture undersecretary ​Gianmarco Mazzi was sworn in on Friday ⁠as the country's new tourism minister, the latest change in Prime Minister ​Giorgia Meloni's government after her defeat ‌in a referendum on judicial reform.

 Former television and entertainment executive Mazzi replaces Daniela ⁠Santanche, who is facing ⁠trial over accounting charges linked to a publishing group she previously owned and resigned from her ministry ‌post last week under pressure from ⁠Meloni.

Meloni wrote on her ‌X social media account ​that Mazzi's background in the culture and entertainment sector would be ‌an asset for Italy, ​posting a photograph ⁠of the swearing-in ceremony with ‌President Sergio Mattarella.

Since ⁠last week's referendum defeat, Meloni has sought to reassert control by removing ​scandal-plagued figures from ‌her government. Two senior justice ministry ⁠officials have also ​stepped down.

(Reporting by Angelo AmanteEditing ​by David Goodman)

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