Populist parties love to represent themselves as rule-breaking mavericks. But wherever they win office, they find themselves invariably having to work with established actors in order to get anything done.
Like many other signs this year, particularly last month's US election, these twin events warn of a rising tide of xenophobic right-wing populism.
At 39, Italy's new prime minister is the youngest in Europe. But as Crikey intern Luca Zuccaro discovers, the baby-faced PM is not even in the top five youngest leaders in the world.
Australian exclusive watch (just kidding Chris) ...
Italy has sworn in its youngest prime minister, and Mattew Renzi has big plans. But Rome reporter Josephine McKenna asks: can the former Wheel of Fortune winner now win over a disaffected nation?
Italy's new prime minister, until two months ago the 38-year-old mayor of Florence, is ambitious and models himself on Tony Blair. But he'll have huge challenges ahead of him as he tackles Italy's economic and electoral woes, and no parliamentary majority to aid his rule.
