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Italy PM Letta in battle for survival with Matteo Renzi Italy PM Letta in battle for survival with Matteo Renzi
(35 minutes later)
Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta will present the government's 2014 programme on Wednesday as speculation mounts that he is to be replaced by party leader Matteo Renzi. Italian PM Enrico Letta is due to present the government's 2014 programme as speculation mounts he is to be replaced by party leader Matteo Renzi.
The two men are holding face-to-face talks to discuss the political crisis. The two men held face-to-face talks on Wednesday about Italy's latest political crisis.
Mr Letta, who formed a Democratic Party-led (PD) coalition last April after an election stalemate, has been publicly criticised by Mr Renzi.Mr Letta, who formed a Democratic Party-led (PD) coalition last April after an election stalemate, has been publicly criticised by Mr Renzi.
Mr Renzi, the mayor of Florence, became PD leader last December.Mr Renzi, the mayor of Florence, became PD leader last December.
The 39-year-old Mr Renzi has said he favours early general elections. Their meeting on Wednesday morning lasted around an hour at the prime minister's office, the Chigi palace, before Mr Renzi left without making a statement, reports say.
Italian media reports speak of crucial hours for the future of the government, with a Democratic Party meeting scheduled for next week brought forward to Thursday morning.
The 39-year-old mayor of Florence has already said he favours early general elections.
The prime minister, whose coalition includes small centre-right parties, has said his reform programme, entitled "Commitment 2014", will focus on "economic revival".The prime minister, whose coalition includes small centre-right parties, has said his reform programme, entitled "Commitment 2014", will focus on "economic revival".
But Italian media reports speak of crucial hours for the future of the government, with a Democratic Party meeting scheduled for next week brought forward to Thursday morning.
President Giorgio Napolitano, who appointed Mr Letta as prime minister, said a decision on the fate of the government was up to the PD.President Giorgio Napolitano, who appointed Mr Letta as prime minister, said a decision on the fate of the government was up to the PD.
One centrist MP in the coalition, Andrea Romano, told Italian TV he hoped the prime minister would show "generosity" and allow the PD leader the chance to govern.One centrist MP in the coalition, Andrea Romano, told Italian TV he hoped the prime minister would show "generosity" and allow the PD leader the chance to govern.
But Renato Brunetta, a leading opposition politician with former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia party, complained on Wednesday that Italy was returning to an era of unstable government.But Renato Brunetta, a leading opposition politician with former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia party, complained on Wednesday that Italy was returning to an era of unstable government.
"If Renzi is going to be prime minister, he'll be the third prime minister who has not been backed by a popular vote. [Mario] Monti, Letta and now maybe Renzi," he told Italian radio."If Renzi is going to be prime minister, he'll be the third prime minister who has not been backed by a popular vote. [Mario] Monti, Letta and now maybe Renzi," he told Italian radio.
President Napolitano has himself been criticised this week after reports that he had a meeting with Mr Monti months before the fall of the centre-right Berlusconi government amid economic turmoil in late 2011.President Napolitano has himself been criticised this week after reports that he had a meeting with Mr Monti months before the fall of the centre-right Berlusconi government amid economic turmoil in late 2011.
Italy's long-serving prime minister was replaced by a technocrat government led by Mr Monti. He was thrown out of parliament last year after a tax fraud conviction. Berlusconi was replaced as prime minister by Mr Monti, whose technocrat administration lasted just over a year. Italy's former long-serving prime minister was thrown out of parliament last year after a tax fraud conviction.
Mr Renzi angered some members of his party last month by agreeing an electoral reform deal with Berlusconi that brought the Forza Italia leader back to the centre stage of Italian politics.Mr Renzi angered some members of his party last month by agreeing an electoral reform deal with Berlusconi that brought the Forza Italia leader back to the centre stage of Italian politics.