EU's von der Leyen picks far-right Italian for top commission job

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen nominated on Tuesday far-right Italian politician Raffaele Fitto to be an executive vice president in her commission - setting a controversial precedent likely to meet resistance in the European Parliament.

Fitto, a member of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's Brothers of Italy (FdI) party, is to hold the cohesion and reforms portfolio in von der Leyen's team of EU commissioners.

If confirmed, it would be the first time a politician from the FdI has held a post in the EU executive arm. As vice president, he would oversee several commission portfolios.

The decision is expected to meet major opposition from left-wing and liberal groups at the EU parliament, which has to approve all appointed commissioners.

Meloni did not back von der Leyen for a second term in the commission, however the German conservative needed to consider the risk of Italy drifting further to the right in opposition to the EU like Hungary.