Renzi quits,to stay for routine business (2)

(ANSA) - Rome, December 7 - Matteo Renzi on Wednesday tendered his resignation as premier and that of his government to President Sergio Mattarella after the 2017 budget bill was approved and following a resounding defeat in Sunday's Constitutional reform referendum. Mattarella "reserved (the right) to decide and invited the government to remain in charge for day-to-day business," a statement from the president's office said. Mattarella will now hold talks with institutional figures and Italy's political parties starting with the parliamentary Speakers an former president Giorgio Napolitano at 18:00 Thursday to decide on a way forward from the government crisis. He has said he is against a general election at least until an electoral law is reformed following a Constitutional Court ruling on it next month. Depending on what he hears, Mattarella may appoint a short caretaker government or one with a longer mandate.