- Title: Speculation over Renzi successor grows
- Date: 8th December 2016
- Summary: ROME, ITALY (FILE - DECEMBER 22, 2012) (REUTERS) ITALIAN CULTURE MINISTER, DARIO FRANCESCHINI, EXITING ROOM AFTER CONSULTATIONS FOLLOWING MARIO MONTI'S RESIGNATION AS PRIME MINISTER
- Embargoed: 23rd December 2016 15:17
- Keywords: Italy prime minister Matteo Renzi successor Pietro Grasso Pier Carlo Padoan Dario Franceschini Graziano Delrio
- Location: ROME AND POMPEII, ITALY
- City: ROME AND POMPEII, ITALY
- Country: Italy
- Reuters ID: LVA0055C0XNBB
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Italy's president begins talks with political leaders on Thursday (December 8) to seek a way out of the political crisis caused by the resignation of Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.
Sergio Mattarella, a 75-year-old former politician and constitutional court judge, must decide if someone can lead Italy to elections scheduled for 2018, or whether an interim government should serve until a snap vote can be held in spring.
Mattarella, a former Christian Democrat with a less interventionist style than his predecessor Giorgio Napolitano, begins talks with institutional leaders at 6 p.m. (1700 GMT) at the Quirinal Palace.
Meetings will expand to parliamentary parties on Friday (December 9) and wrap up on Saturday (December 10) evening.
Mattarella is widely expected to ask a member of Renzi's cabinet, or a politician from his Democratic Party, to try to form a new government. But he might also seek parliamentary backing for a leader of his own choosing.
Economy Minister Pier Carlo Padoan, who has pulled out of meetings with European finance ministers in Brussels this week, is viewed as a possible candidate for prime minister. Senate President Pietro Grasso, Transport Minister Graziano Delrio and Culture Minister Dario Franceschini have also been tipped as potential premiers.
Mattarella could wait until Monday (December 12) to make his decision known, a source close to the president said. Renzi has ruled out - for the moment - staying on as a caretaker, a parliamentary source said.
Most parties, including Renzi's Democratic Party (PD) which holds the most seats in parliament, appear to favour an early vote, which would add Italy to a list of major European countries - including France, Germany and the Netherlands - facing a national ballot in 2017.
So far markets have taken Italy's situation in stride. Even Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena, which looks likely to require government intervention to survive, saw its shares rise more than 6 percent on Thursday after it asked the European Central Bank for a three-week extension to its rescue plan.
On Tuesday (December 6), Mattarella unexpectedly dictated two conditions that delay any vote until spring: the Constitutional Court must rule on the lower house's current voting law, a decision not expected before January 24.
Subsequently parliament must draft new election rules for both houses, Mattarella said. Considering 45 days for campaigning are set aside by law, it would be difficult to hold an election before April.
The consultations will allow Mattarella to test parliamentary waters, but Renzi's majority - and his input as leader of the PD - are key to what happens next.
On Wednesday, Renzi said the PD would only participate in a government intended to last until 2018 if it was backed by all the main forces in parliament, a prospect most of them have already ruled out. Otherwise, early elections should be held as soon as possible, he said. - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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