President Sergio Mattarella has
asked Premier Matteo Renzi to hold off on his resignation until
the 2017 budget bill is approved by the Senate in order to ward
off the risk of parliament being forced to apply a provisional
budget, the president's office said in a statement Monday.
The statement followed what was the second meeting of the day
between Mattarella and Renzi, who previously told his cabinet
ministers he intends to resign, thanking them for their
cooperation and team spirit during the just over 1,000 days of
his administration.
Earlier, Mattarella warned that parliament must stick to its
deadlines and commitments in the aftermath of Renzi's announced
resignation.
"Institutions must ensure the deadlines and commitments we
face are respected, guaranteeing responses that are commensurate
with the current issues," said Italy's president.
Mattarella urged parties and politicians to ensure "a climate
of serenity and mutual respect" and that "the high turnout in
yesterday's referendum is a testament to a solid democracy (and)
an impassioned country capable of active participation".
Renzi said late last night he will hand in his resignation to
Mattarella after the resounding victory of the No vote in
Sunday's referendum on constitutional reform.
The outgoing premier told a news conference he took "all the
responsibility" after his government's reform was rejected by
close to 60% of voters. The Italian people had spoken "in a
clear, unequivocal way" he said. "We took this reform to the
vote, we weren't convincing, but we leave with no regrets,"
Renzi told a midnight press conference.
"As was clear from the start, my experience in government
ends here... I'm proud of the opportunity government has given
citizens to express themselves on the reform. Many people have
come closer to the Constitution (as a result)."
One of the possible outcomes of this situation is that
Mattarella may give someone a mandate to form a caretaker
government to pass the budget bill and a new electoral law.
Economy Minister Pier Carlo Padoan, Culture Minister Dario
Franceschini and Senate Speaker Pietro Grasso have been
mentioned as possible heads of a caretaker government.
Also on Monday, former center-right premier Silvio Berlusconi
said it is up to Renzi's center-left Democratic Party (PD),
which has a majority in parliament, to form a new government
tasked with approving next year's budget as well as "a new
electoral law based on criteria that will guarantee that the
parliamentary majority corresponds to the majority expressed by
voters".
"We trust in (Mattarella's) role as guarantor and that he
will oversee this delicate phase with balance and impartiality,"
Berlusconi said, calling for elections "soon".
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