Rightwingers and Ex-model in Italian Cabinet

Silvio Berlusconi's new ministers, including a former topless model responsible for gender equality, were last night sworn in at Italy's presidential palace.

Despite campaign promises of a greater role for women in government, the new 21-member cabinet will have only four female ministers. In the previous, centre-left, government women occupied five of the 26 cabinet seats.

Berlusconi nevertheless gave two of the more important jobs to women: Maria Stella Gelmini, his new education minister, and Stefania Prestigiacomo, who takes on responsibility for the environment.

By far the most controversial appointment is that of 32-year-old Mara Carfagna as equal opportunities minister. Until two years ago she was a presenter on a Berlusconi TV channel.

A former beauty queen who came sixth in the 1998 Miss Italy contest, Carfagna posed naked for magazines while carving out her career in show business. Last year she was at the centre of a furious public row between Berlusconi and his wife. The then opposition leader was made to apologize for telling Carfagna at an awards ceremony he would marry her if he were not already wed.

Another appointment that may cause problems is that of Roberto Calderoli, a member of the Northern League, charged with reducing the number of laws in force. Two years ago he was blamed for riots in Libya that erupted after he wore a T-shirt on TV featuring the Danish cartoon of the prophet Muhammad. A charity headed by Muammar Gaddafi, the son of Libya's leader, warned of "catastrophic repercussions" if Calderoli became a minister.

Another member of the anti-immigrant Northern League, Roberto Maroni, will be the new interior minister.