Italy President Sergio Mattarella on Wednesday asked law professor Giuseppe Conte to form a government, news reports said, putting a pair of populist parties on the cusp of power. Conte, a political unknown, was selected as a compromise candidate by the leaders of the 5 Star Movement and the League, who agreed to form a coalition government in the wake of March elections that had failed to produce a conclusive result. Conte must now draw up a list of cabinet ministers and submit them to the president for approval before taking office, according to Politico.