Ex-premier Matteo Renzi said Friday
that he has no intention of stepping down as leader of the
Democratic Party (PD), no matter how well or badly the
centre-left group does in Sunday's general election.
"I will be PD secretary until 2021, that was decided by the
primaries (last year)," Renzi told La7 television.
The PD looks set to do badly in Sunday's general election,
according to opinion polls that also put Premier Paolo
Gentiloni's approval rating higher than Renzi's, who was head of
government from 2014 to late 2016.
Gentiloni is also a PD member.
Renzi said Thursday he would back Gentiloni "or any other PD
candidate" if they are tapped by President Sergio Mattarella to
try and form the next government.
"I have an extraordinary relationship with Gentiloni, and
whoever in the PD gets the mandate from the president will have
my support," Renzi said.
"Those who are trying to fuel an internal congress, let's let
them carry on: Gentiloni and I will never quarrel.
"The PD has the best team and the strongest ideas, so good
that the others are copying them".
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