Enrico Letta, Italy’s centre-left prime minister, is seeking urgently parliamentary support for a new government after centre-right leader Silvio Berlusconi pulled his ministers out of their five-month-old coalition, risking a financial market backlash.
Mr Letta held crisis talks on Sunday night with Giorgio Napolitano, head of state, who earlier said he would explore all alternatives before using his constitutional powers to dissolve parliament and call new elections. Mr Letta is expected to address parliament early this week.
The prime minister said he would present his government plan to parliament, possibly on Wednesday, and ask for a vote of confidence. Speaking on a television talk-show after his talks with the president, Mr Letta hinted he had hopes that some deputies on the centre-right would not toe the party line set by Mr Berlusconi, CNN informs.
