This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/dec/07/matteo-renzi-to-resubmit-resignation-as-italys-prime-minister

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
'Thanks to all and long live Italy' – PM Matteo Renzi tenders resignation again 'Thanks to all and long live Italy' – PM Matteo Renzi tenders resignation again
(about 2 hours later)
Matteo Renzi will formally submit his resignation on Wednesday evening, nearly three years after he became Italy’s youngest ever prime minister. Matteo Renzi has formally submitted his resignation, nearly three years after he became Italy’s youngest ever prime minister.
Renzi will deliver his resignation to Sergio Mattarella, Italy’s president, two days after he attempted to quit following a resounding defeat in Sunday’s referendum on constitutional reform. The resignation was delivered to Sergio Mattarella, Italy’s president, two days after he first attempted to quit after suffering a resounding defeat in Sunday’s referendum on constitutional reform.
On Monday, Mattarella asked the prime minister to stay in office to oversee the final passage of the 2017 budget, which was passed on Wednesday, laying the groundwork for Renzi’s final resignation. On Monday, Mattarella asked the prime minister to stay in office to oversee the final passage of the 2017 budget, which was passed on Wednesday, laying the groundwork for Renzi’s departure from office.
An avid fan of social media, Renzi, who is due to speak to his Democratic party (PD) later on Wednesday, confirmed the news on Twitter, writing: “Budget law passed. Formal resignation at 7pm. Thanks to all and long live Italy.” But even in the hours before his resignation, Renzi was seeking to pave a path – however uncertain – for his eventual return.
In a note posted on his website, and in a highly anticipated speech before lawmakers in his Democratic party (PD), Renzi finally offered a plan for how he believed the party should move forward. He called on opposition parties to join the PD to form a new government that would tackle the country’s challenges and international obligations.
“Other parties have to share the burden,” he said, adding that it would be “difficult to sustain” a situation in which the PD was depicted in the media “every day and every night” as a government that had not legitimately been elected, a frequent criticism of Renzi’s government after he entered office following an intra-party coup.
If they failed to agree, Renzi said, new elections should be called as soon as the country’s constitutional court issued its verdict on an electoral law that is under review and may need to be changed. The verdict is due 24 January.
“The Democratic party is not afraid of democracy. The Democratic party is not afraid of votes,” he said.
It was unclear until Wednesday afternoon when Renzi would actually leave the prime minister’s office. But, an avid fan of social media, he confirmed his official resignation on Twitter after the budget passed, writing: “Formal resignation at 7pm. Thanks to all and long live Italy.”
Legge di bilancio approvata. Alle 19 le dimissioni formali. Grazie a tutti e viva l'Italiahttps://t.co/PLsLxcrPGSLegge di bilancio approvata. Alle 19 le dimissioni formali. Grazie a tutti e viva l'Italiahttps://t.co/PLsLxcrPGS
His departure was set in motion when it became clear that nearly 60% of Italians had voted to reject the sweeping changes to Italy’s constitution and parliamentary system that were backed by the outgoing prime minister. The resounding defeat was not only seen as a rejection of the reforms, but as a vote of no confidence in Renzi, who said he would step down if the vote went against him.His departure was set in motion when it became clear that nearly 60% of Italians had voted to reject the sweeping changes to Italy’s constitution and parliamentary system that were backed by the outgoing prime minister. The resounding defeat was not only seen as a rejection of the reforms, but as a vote of no confidence in Renzi, who said he would step down if the vote went against him.
The formal resignation will free Mattarella, who has the power to dissolve parliament and name prime ministers, to begin talks with the leaders of Italy’s biggest political parties – including the PD, conservative Forza Italia, the anti-establishment Five Star Movement, and the anti-immigrant Northern League – who will have to agree on an interim government and prime minister.The formal resignation will free Mattarella, who has the power to dissolve parliament and name prime ministers, to begin talks with the leaders of Italy’s biggest political parties – including the PD, conservative Forza Italia, the anti-establishment Five Star Movement, and the anti-immigrant Northern League – who will have to agree on an interim government and prime minister.
But the real news on Wednesday is likely to come from the Democratic party headquarters. In a meeting that will be broadcast online and on TV Renzi will speak publicly for the first time about the next steps for the party, and his own strategy. One of the biggest questions is whether he can still command the loyalty of a majority of his party after Sunday’s rout. The meeting could offer some hints. Renzi also announced that he would not personally be involved in the negotiations.
Meanwhile, the interim government, likely to be installed in the next few days if an agreement can be reached, is expected to deal with the primary task of amending an electoral law that needs to be changed following the referendum. Once that task is completed, Renzi and his closest aides have suggested they want to call a new election instead of waiting until February 2018, the end of the parliamentary session. He suggested one of his two deputies be sent to the talks with Mattarella: Lorenzo Guerini or Matteo Orfini, and two whips, Ettore Rosato and Luigi Zanda.
If no agreement can be reached, the new interim prime minister could probably be installed just with the backing of the PD, which controls a majority of seats in parliament. But as Renzi suggested, the party would then want elections to be called as soon possible.
One of the biggest questions is whether Renzi can still command the loyalty of a majority of his party after Sunday’s rout.
Meanwhile, the interim government, likely to be installed in the next few days if an agreement can be reached, is expected to deal with the primary task of amending an electoral law that needs to be changed following the referendum.
Giovanni Orsina, a professor of Italian politics at LUISS University in Rome, said the biggest question now was whether the developments of the next few days would go according to Renzi’s wishes and demands.Giovanni Orsina, a professor of Italian politics at LUISS University in Rome, said the biggest question now was whether the developments of the next few days would go according to Renzi’s wishes and demands.
If Renzi got his way, Orsina said, the interim prime minister would be someone he trusts to stay in office until the electoral law is amended – someone who would then resign to open the door to elections.If Renzi got his way, Orsina said, the interim prime minister would be someone he trusts to stay in office until the electoral law is amended – someone who would then resign to open the door to elections.
Renzi’s preferred candidates for the job are widely believed to be Pier Carlo Padoan, his finance minister, Paolo Gentiloni, his foreign minister, or Graziano Delrio, the infrastructure minister.Renzi’s preferred candidates for the job are widely believed to be Pier Carlo Padoan, his finance minister, Paolo Gentiloni, his foreign minister, or Graziano Delrio, the infrastructure minister.
Orsina added: “The real issue is, are we going to have a government that Renzi controls to the extent that he may ask the prime minister to resign in the right moment? Or will he have to accept a prime minister that is not under his full control?”Orsina added: “The real issue is, are we going to have a government that Renzi controls to the extent that he may ask the prime minister to resign in the right moment? Or will he have to accept a prime minister that is not under his full control?”