Oops! New Italian government appoints wrong man

A misunderstanding meant Italy's new technocrat government appointed the wrong man to a ministry position, according to reports.

Newly-installed Prime Minister Mario Monti said last month university professors would occupy over a third of the 17 positions in Italy's new cabinet as part of a government of unelected experts. His aim was to reassure markets over Italy's commitment to fiscal reform. Professors were also appointed in more junior positions: university professor Francesco Braga was informed he was to become undersecretary for agriculture as part of the sweeping changes. But Braga teaches at the University of Guelph in Canada and has spent the past 28 years living outside Italy. It soon emerged the Ita...