Berlusconi is recycling ministers who served his first two governments in the mid-1990s and at the start of the new century, the Italian news agency ANSA says.

Franco Frattini is back for a foreign affairs stint while Giulio Tremonti returns for a third time as finance minister.

Roberto Maroni is the interior minister once again and Umberto Bossi returns to his old job in charge of reform.

After two years out of power, Berlusconi's coalition won elections held in April.